MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE; 


OR, 


THE    VOYAGE    TO    CATHAY, 


BY    J.    FENIMOEE    COOPER. 


I  fill  this  cap  to  one  made  up  of  loveliness  alone, 
A  woman,  of  her  gentle  BOX  the  seeming  paragon; 
To  whom  the  better  elements  and  kindly  etars  hare  given 
A  form  BO  fair,  that,  like  the  air,  'tis  lesg  of  earth  than  hea\ 

Pwkney. 


NEW    EDITION. 


NEW   YORK: 
STRINGER     AND     TOWNSEND. 

1856 


MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1840;  by 

J.  FENIMORE  COOPKR, 

I>  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


PREFACE. 


So  much  has  been  written  of  late  years,  touching 
the  discovery  of  America,  that  it  would  not  be  at, 
all  surprising  should  there  exist  a  disposition  in  a 
certain  class  of  readers  to  deny  the  accuracy  of 
all  the  statements  in  this  work.  Some  may  refer 
to  history,  with  a  view  to  prove  that  there  never 
were  such  persons  as  our  hero  and  heroine,  and  fancy 
that  by  establishing  these  facts,  they  completely  de 
stroy  the  authenticity  of  the  whole  book.  In  answer 
to  this  anticipated  objection,  we  will  state,  that  after 
carefully  perusing  several  of  the  Spanish  wiiters, 
from  Cervantes  to  the  translator  of  the  journal  of 
Columbus,  the  Alpha*  and  Omega  of  peninsular  litera 
ture,  and  after  having  read  both  Irving  and  Prescott 
from  beginning  to  end,  we  do  not  find  a  syllable  in 
either  of  them,  that  we  understand  to  be  conclusive 
evidence,  or  indeed  to  be  any  evidence  at  all,  on  the 
portions  of  our  subject  that  are  likely  to  be  disputed. 
Until  some  solid  affirmative  proof,  therefore,  can  be 
produced  against  us,  we  shall  hold  our  case  to  be 
made  out,  and  rest  our  claims  to  be  believed  on  the 
authority  of  our  own  statements.  Nor  do  we  think 

(9) 


PREFACE. 


there  is  any  thing  either  unreasonable  or  unusual  in 
this  course,  as  perhaps  the  greater  portion  of  that 
which  is  daily  and  hourly  offered  to  the  credence 
of  the  American  public,  rests  on  the  same  species 
of  testimony, — with  the  trifling  difference  that  we  state 
truths,  with  a  profession  of  fiction,  while  the  great 
moral  caterers  of  the  age  state  fiction  with  the  pro 
fession  of  truth.  If  any  advantage  can  be  fairly 
obtained  over  us,  in  consequence  of  this  trifling  dis 
crepancy,  we  must  submit. 

There  is  one  point,  notwithstanding,  concerning 
which  it  may  be  well  to  be  frank  at  once.  The 
narrative  of  the  "Voyage  to  Cathay,"  has  been  writ 
ten  with  the  journal  of  the  Admiral  before  us ;  or, 
rather  with  all  of  that  journal,  that  has  been  given 
to  the  world  through  the  agency  of  a  very  incom 
petent  and  meagre  editor.  Nothing  is  plainer  than 
the  general  fact  that  this  person  did  not  always  un 
derstand  his  author,  and  in  one  particular  circum 
stance  he  has  written  so  obscurely,  as  not  a  little  to 
embarrass  even  a  novelist,  whose  functions  naturally 
include  an  entire  familiarity  with  the  thoughts,  emo 
tions,  characters,  and,  occasionally,  with  the  unknown 
fates  of  the  subjects  of  his  pen.  The  nautical  day 
formerly  commenced  at  meridian,  and  with  all  our 
native  ingenuity  and  high  professional  prerogatives 
we  have  not  been  able  to  discover  whether  the  editor 
of  the  journal  has  adopted  that  mode  of  counting 
time,  or  whether  he  has  condescended  to  use  the 


PREFACE.  *1 

more  vulgar  and  irrational  practice  of  landsmen. 
It  is  our  opinion,  however,  that  in  the  spirit  of 
impartiality  which  becomes  an  historian,  he  has 
adopted  both.  This  little  peculiarity  might  possibly 
embarrass  a  superficial  critic;  but  accurate  critics 
being  so  very  common,  we  feel  no  concern  on  this 
head,  well  knowing  that  they  will  be  much  more  apt 
to  wink  at  these  minor  inconsistencies,  than  to  pass 
over  an  error  of  the  press,  or  a  comma  with  a  bro 
ken  tail.  As  we  wish  to  live  on  good  terms  with 
this  useful  class  of  our  fellow-creatures,  we  have 
directed  the  printers  to  mis-spell  some  eight  or  ten 
words  for  their  convenience,  and  to  save  them  from 
head-aches,  have  honestly  stated  this  principal  diffi 
culty  ourselves. 

Should  the  publicity  which  is  now  given  to  the 
consequences  of  commencing  a  day  in  the  middle, 
have  the  effect  to  induce  the  government  to  order 
that  it  shall,  in  future,  with  all  American  seamen, 
commence  at  one  of  its  ends,  something  will  be  gained 
in  the  way  of  simplicity,  and  the  writing  of  novels 
will,  in-so-much,  be  rendered  easier  and  more  agree 
able. 

As  respects  the  minor  characters  of  this  work, 
very  little  need  be  said.  Every  one  knows  that  Co 
lumbus  had  seamen  in  his  vessels,  and  that  he  brought 
some  of  the  natives  of  the  islands  he  had  discovered, 
back  with  him  to  Spain.  The  reader  is  now  made 
much  more  intimately  acquainted  with  certain  of 


Xll  PREFACE. 

these  individuals,  we  will  venture  to  say,  that  he  can 
be  possibly  by  the  perusal  of  any  work  previously 
written.  As  for  the  subordinate  incidents  connected 
with  the  more  familiar  events  of  the  age,  it  is  hoped 
they  will  be  found  so  completely  to  fill  up  this  branch 
of  the  subject,  as  to  render  future  investigations  un» 
necessary. 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"There  was  knocking  that  shook  the  marble  floor, 

And  a  voice  at  the  gate,  which  said  — 
••That  the  Cid  Ruy  Diez,  the  Campeador, 

Was  there  in  his  arras  array'd.' " 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

WHETHER  we  take  the  pictures  of  the  inimitable  Cer- 
yantes,  or  of  that  scarcely  less  meritorious  author  from 
whom  Le  Sage  has  borrowed  his  immortal  tale,  for  our 
guides ;  whether  we  confide  in  the  graver  legends  of  his 
tory,  or  put  our  trust  in  the  accounts  of  modern  travellers, 
the  time  has  scarcely  ever  existed  when  the  inns  of  Spain 
were  good,  or  the  roads  safe.  These  are  two  of  the  bless 
ings  of  civilization  which  the  people  of  the  peninsula  would 
really  seem  destined  never  to  attain ;  for,  in  all  ages,  we 
hear,  or  have  heard,  of  wrongs  done  the  traveller  equally  by 
the  robber  and  the  host.  If  such  are  the  facts  fo-day,  such 
also  were  the  facts  in  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century 
the  period  to  which  we  desire  to  carry  back  the  reader  ir 
imagination. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  month  of  October,  in  tho 
year  of  our  Lord  1469,  John  of  Trastamara  reigned  in 
Aragon,  holding  his  court  at  a  place  called  Zaragosa,  a 
town  lying  on  the  Ebro,  the  name  of  which  is  supposed  to 
be  a  corruption  of  Cassar  Augustus,  and  a  city  that  has 
become  celebrated  in  our  own  times,  under  the  more  Angli 
cised  term  of  Saragessa,  for  its  deeds  in  arms.  John  of 
2  (13) 


14  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

Trastamara,  or,  as  it  was  more  usual  to  style  him,  agree 
ably  to  the  nomenclature  of  kings,  John  II.,  was  one  of  the 
most  sagacious  monarchs  of  his  age ;  but  he  had  become 
impoverished  by  many  conflicts  with  the  turbulent,  or,  as  it 
may  be  more  courtly  to  say,  the  liberty-loving  Catalonians  ; 
had.  frequently  enough  to  do  to  maintain  his  seat  on  the 
throne;  possessed  a  party-coloured  empire  that  included 
within  its  sway,  besides  his  native  Aragon,  with  its  depend 
encies  of  Valencia  and  Catalonia,  Sicily  and  the  Balearic 
Islands,  with  some  very  questionable  rights  in  Navarre. 
By  the  will  of  his  elder  brother  and  predecessor,  the  crown 
of  Naples  had  descended  to  an  illegitimate  son  of  the  latter, 
else  would  that  kingdom  have  been  added  to  the  list.  The 
King  of  Aragon  had  seen  a  long  and  troubled  reign,  and, 
at  this  very  moment,  his  treasury  was  nearly  exhausted,  by 
his  efforts  to  subdue  the  truculent  Catalans,  though  he  was 
nearer  a  triumph  than  he  could  then  foresee,  his  competitor, 
the  Duke  of  Lorraine,  dying  suddenly,  only  two  short 
months  after  the  precise  period  chosen  for  the  commence 
ment  of  our  tale.  But  it  is  denied  to  man  to  look  into  the 
future,  and  on  the  9th  of  the  month  just  mentioned,  the  in 
genuity  of  the  royal  treasurer  was  most  sorely  taxed,  there 
having  arisen  an  unexpected  demand  for  a  considerable 
sum  of  money,  at  the  very  moment  that  the  army  was 
about  to  disband  itself  for  the  want  of  pay,  and  the  public 
coffers  contained  only  the  very  moderate  sum  of  throe  hun 
dred  Enriques,  or  Henrys  ;  a  gold  coin  named  after  a  pre 
vious  monarch,  and  which  had  a  value  not  far  from  that  of 
the  modern  ducat,  or  our  own  quarter  eagle.  The  matter, 
however,  was  too  pressing  to  be  deferred,  and  even  the 
objects  of  the  war  were  considered  as  secondary  to  those 
connected  with  this  suddenly-conceived,  and  more  private 
enterprise.  Councils  were  held,  money-dealers  were  ca 
joled  or  frightened,  and  the  confidants  of  the  court  were 
very  manifestly  in  a  state  of  great  and  earnest  excitement. 
At  length,  the  time  of  preparation  appeared  to  be  passed 
and  the  instant  of  action  arrived.  Curiosity  was  relieved, 
and  the  citizens  of  Saragossa  were  permitted  to  know  that 
their  sovereign  was  about  to  send  a  solemn  embassy,  on 
matters  of  high  moment,  to  his  neighbour,  kinsman,  and 
ally,  the  monarch  of  CastiU.  In  1469,  Henry,  also  of 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


15 


Trastamara,  sat  upon  the  throne  of  the  adjoining  kingdom, 
under  the  title  of  Henry  IV.  '  He  was  the  grandson,  in  the 
male  line,  of  the  brother  of  John  II.'s  father,  and  conse 
quently,  a  first-cousin,  once  removed,  of  the  monarch  of 
Aragon.  Notwithstanding  this  affinity,  and  the  strong 
family  interests  that  might  be  supposed  to  unite  them,  it  re 
quired  many  friendly  embassies  to  preserve  the  peace  be 
tween  the  two  monarchs ;  and  the  announcement  of  that 
which  was  about  to  depart,  produced  more  satisfaction 
than  wonder  in  the  streets  of  the  town. 

Henry  of  Castile,  though  he  reigned  over  broader  and 
richer  peninsular  territories,  than  his  relative  of  Aragon, 
had  his  cares  and  troubles,  also.  He  had  been  twice  mar 
ried,  having  repudiated  his  first  consort,  Blanche  of  Ara 
gon,  to  wed  Joanna  of  Portugal,  a  princess  of  a  levity  of 
character  so  marked,  as  not  only  to  bring  great  scandal 
on  the  court  generally,  but  to  throw  so  much  distrust  on 
the  birth  of  her  only  child,  a  daughter,  as  to  push  discon 
tent  to  disaffection,  and  eventually  to  deprive  the  infant 
itself  of  the  rights  of  royalty.  Henry's  father,  like  him 
self,  had  been  twice  married,  and  the  issue  of  the  second 
union  was  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Alfonso  and  Isabella ;  the 
latter  becoming  subsequently  illustrious,  under  the  double 
titles  of  the  Queen  of  Castile,  and  of  the  Catholic.  The 
luxurious  impotency  of  Henry,  as  a  monarch,  had  driven 
a  portion  of  his  subjects  into  open  rebellion.  Three  years 
preceding  that  selected  for  our  opening,  his  brother  Alfonso 
had  been  proclaimed  king  in  his  stead,  and  a  civil  war  had 
raged  throughout  his  provinces.  This  war  had  been  re 
cently  terminated  by  the  death  of  Alfonso,  when  the  peace 
of  the  kingdom  was  temporarily  restored  by  a  treaty,  in 
which  Henry  consented  to  the  setting  aside  of  his  own 
daughter — or  rather  of  the  daughter  of  Joanna  of  Portugal 
—and  to  the  recognition  of  his  half-sister  Isabella,  as  the 
rightful  heiress  of  the  throne.  The  last  concession  was  the 
result  of  dire  necessity,  and,  as  might  have  been  expected, 
it  led  to  many  secret  and  violent  measures,  with  a  view  to 
defeat  its  objects.  Among  the  other  expedients  adopted  by 
the  king,  or  it  might  be  better  to  say,  by  his  favourites,  the 
inaction  and  indolence  of  the  self-indulgent  but  kind- 
hearted  prince  being  proverbial,  with  a  view  to  counteract 


MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE 


the  probable  consequences  of  the  expected  accession  of  Isa 
bella,  were  various  schemes  to  control  her  will,  and  guide 
her  policy,  by  giving  her  hand,  first  to  a  subject,  with  a 
view  to  reduce  her  power,  and  subsequently  to  various 
foreign  princes,  who  were  thought  to  be  more  or  less  suited 
to  the  furtherance  of  such  schemes.     Just  at  this  moment, 
indeed,  the  marriage  of  the  princess  was  one  of  the  neatest 
objects  of  Spanish  prudence.     The  son  of  the  Kin<r  of  Ara- 
gon  was  one  of  the  suitors  for  the  hand  of  Isabella,  and 
most  of  those  who  heard  of  the  intended  departure  of  the 
embassy,  naturally  enough  believed  that  the  mission  had 
some  connection  with  that  great  stroke  of  Aragonese  policy. 
Isabella  had  the  reputation  of  learning,  modesty,  discre 
tion,  piety  and  beauty,   besides   being  the  acknowledged 
heiress  of  so  enviable  a  crown ;  and  there  were  many  com 
petitors  for  her  hand.     Among  them  were  to  be  ranked 
French,  English  and  Portuguese  princes,  besides  him  of 
Aragon  to  whom  we  have  already  alluded.     Different  fa- 
vouritea  supported  different  pretenders,  struggling  to  effect 
their  several  purposes  by  the  usual  intrigues  ofPcourtiers 
and  partisans ;  while  the  royal  maiden,  herself,  who  was 
the  object  of  so  much  competition  and  rivalry,  observed  a 
discreet  and  womanly  decorum,  even  while  firmly  bent  on 
indulging  her  most  womanly  and  dearest  sentiments.     Her 
brother,  the  king,  was  in  the  south,  pursuing  his  pleasures, 
and,  long  accustomed  to  dwell  in  comparative  solitude,  the 
princess  was   earnestly  occupied   in   arranging   her   own 
affairs,  in  a  way  that  she  believed  would  most  conduce  to 
her  own  happiness.     After  several  attempts  to  entrap  her 
person,  from  which  she  had  only  escaped  by  the  prompt 
succour  of  the  forces  of  her  friends,  she  had  taken  refuge 
in  Leon,  in  the  capital  of  which  province,  or  kingdom  as'it 
was  sometimes  called,  Valladolid,  she  temporarily  took  up 
her  abode.     As  Henry,  however,  still  remained  in  the  vi 
cinity  of  Granada,  it  is  in  that  direction  we  must  look  for 
the  route  taken  by  the  embassy. 

The  cortege  left  Saragossa,  by  one  of  the  southern  gates, 
early  in  the  morning  of  a  glorious  autumnal  day.  There 
was  the  usual  escort  of  lances,  for  this  the  troubled  state 
of  the  country  demanded ;  bearded  nobles  well  mailed,  for 
few,  who  offered  an  inducement  to  the  plunderer,  ventured 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  17 

on  the  highway  without  this  precaution ;  a  long  train  of 
sumpter  mules,  and  a  host  of  those  who,  by  their  guise, 
were  half  menials  and  half  soldiers.  The  gallant  display 
drew  crowds  after  the  horses'  heels,  and,  together  with 
some  prayers  for  success,  a  vast  deal  of  crude  and  shallow 
conjecture,  as  is  still  the  practice  with  the  uninstructed  and 
gossiping,  was  lavished  on  the  probable  objects  and  results 
of  the  journey.  But  curiosity  has  its  limits,  and  even  the 
gossip  occasionally  grows  weary ;  and  by  the  time  the  sun 
was  setting,  most  of  the  multitude  had  already  forgotten  to 
think  and  speak  of  the  parade  of*  the  morning.  As  the 
night  drew  on,  however,  the  late  pageant  was  still  the  sub 
ject  of  discourse  between  two  soldiers,  who  belonged  to  the 
guard  of  the  western  gate,  or  that  which  opened  on  the 
road  to  the  province  of  Burgos.  These  worthies  were  loi 
tering  away  the  hours,  in  the  listless  manner  common  to 
men  on  watch,  and  the  spirit  of  discussion  and  of  critical 
censure  had  survived  the  thoughts  and  bustle  of  the  day. 

"  If  Don  Alonso  de  Carbajal  thinketh  to  ride  far  in  that 
guise,"  observed  the  elder  of  the  two  idlers,  "  he  would  do 
well  to  look  sharp  to  his  followers,  for  the  army  of  Aragon 
never  sent  forth  a  more  scurvily-appointed  guard  than  that 
he  hath  this  day  led  through  the  southern  gate,  notwith 
standing  the  glitter  of  housings,  and  the  clangour  of  trum 
pets.  We  could  have  furnished  lances  from  Valencia  more 
befitting  a  king's  embassy,  I  tell  thee,  Diego ;  ay,  and  wor 
thier  knights  to  lead  them,  than  these  of  Aragon.  But  if 
the  king  is  content,  it  ill  becomes  soldiers,  like  thee  and 
me,  to  be  dissatisfied." 

"  There  are  many  who  think,  Roderique,  that  it  had  been 
better  to  spare  the  money  lavished  in  this  courtly  letter- 
writing,  to  pay  the  brave  men  who  so  freely  shed  their 
blood  in  order  to  subdue  the  rebellious  Barcelans." 

"  This  is  always  the  way,  boy,  between  debtor  and  cre 
ditor.  Don  John  owes  you  a  few  maravedis,  and  you  grudge 
him  every  Enriques  he  spends  on  his  necessities.  I  am  an 
older  soldier,  and  have  learned  the  art  of  paying  myself, 
when  the  treasury  is  too  poor  to  save  me  the  trouble." 

"  That  might  do  in  a  foreign  war,  when  one  is  batting 
against  the  Moor,  for  instance ;  but,  after  all,  these  Cata 
lans  are  as  good  Christians  as  we  are  ourselves ;  some  of 
2* 


18  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILJ5. 

them  are  as  good  subjects ;  and  it  is  not  as  easy  to  pfundei 
a  countryman  as  to  plunder  an  Infidel." 

"  Easier,  by  twenty  fold ;  for  the  one  expects  it,  and,  like 
all  in  that  unhappy  condition,  seldom  has  any  thing  worth 
taking,  while  the  other  opens  his  stores  to  you  as  freely  as 
he  does  his  heart — but  who  are  these,  setting  forth  on  the 
highway,  at  this  late  hour?" 

"  Fellows  that  pretend  to  wealth,  by  affecting  to  conceal 
it.  I'll  warrant  you,  now,  Roderique,  that  there  is  not 
money  enough  among  all  those  varlets  to  pay  the  laquais 
that  shall  serve  them  their  boiled  eggs,  to-night." 

"  By  St.  lago,  my  blessed  patron  !"  whispered  one  of  the 
leaders  of  a  small  cavalcade,  who,  with  a  single  companion, 
rode  a  little  in  advance  of  the  others,  as  if  not  particularly 
anxious  to  be  too  familiar  with  the  rest,  and  laughing  lightly 
as  he  spoke :  "  Yonder  vagabond  is  nearer  the  truth  than 
is  comfortable !  We  may  have  sufficient  among  us  all  to 
pay  for  an  olla-podrida  and  its  service,  but  I  much  doubt 
whether  there  will  be  a  dobla  left,  when  the  journey  shall 
be  once  ended." 

A  low,  but  grave  rebuke,  checked  this  inconsiderate 
mirth ;  and  the  party,  which  consisted  of  merchants,  or 
traders,  mounted  on  mules,  as  was  evident  by  their  appear 
ance,  for  in  that  age  the  different  classes  were  easily  recog 
nized  by  their  attire,  halted  at  the  gate.  The  permission  to 
quit  the  town  was  regular,  and  the  drowsy  and  conse 
quently  surly  gate-keeper  slowly  undid  his  bars,  in  order 
that  the  travellers  might  pass.  . 

While  these  necessary  movements  were  going  on,  the 
two  soldiers  stood  a  little  on  one  side,  coolly  scanning  the 
group,  though  Spanish  gravity  prevented  them  from  in 
dulging  openly  in  an  expression  of  the  scorn  that  they  ac 
tually  felt  for  two  or  three  Jews  who  were  among  the 
traders.  The  merchants,  moreover,  were  of  a  better  class, 
as  was  evident  by  a  follower  or  two,  who  rode  in  iheit 
train,  in  the  garbs  of  menials,  and  who  kept  at  a  respectful 
distance  while  their  masters  paid  the  light  fee  that  it  was 
customary  to  give  on  passing  the  gates  after  night-fall. 
One  of  these  menials,  capitally  mounted  on  a  tall,  spirited 
nrvulo,  happened  to  place  himself  so  near  Diego,  during  this 


MBKCBDBS    OP    CASTILE.  10 

little  ceremony,  that  the  latter,  who  was  talkative  by  n& 
ture,  could  not  refrain  from  having  his  say. 

"  Prithee,  Pepe,"  commenced  the  soldier,  "  how  many 
hundred  doblas  a  year  do  they  pay,  in  that  service  of  thine, 
and  how  often  do  they  renew  that  fine  leathern  doublet  ?" 

The  varlet,  or  follower  of  the  merchant,  who  was  still  a 
youth,  though  his  vigorous  frame  and  embrowned  cheek 
denoted  equally  severe  exercise  and  rude  exposure,  started 
and  reddened  at  this  free  inquiry,  which  was  enforced  by  a 
hand  slapped  familiarly  on  his  knee,  and  such  a  squeeze  of 
the  leg  as  denoted  the  freedom  of  the  camp.  The  laugh 
of  Diego  probably  suppressed  a  sudden  outbreak  of  anger, 
for  the  soldier  was  one  whose  manner  indicated  too  much 
good-humour  easily  to  excite  resentment. 

"  Thy  gripe  is  friendly,  but  somewhat  close,  comrade," 
the  young  domestic  mildly  observed  ;  "  and  if  thou  wilt  take 
a  friend's  counsel,  it  will  be,  never  to  indulge  in  too  great 
familiarity,  lest  some  day  it  lead  to  a  broken  pate." 

"  By  holy  San  Pedro  !  —  I  should  relish" — 

It  was  too  late,  however ;  for  his  masters  having  pro 
ceeded,  the  youth  pushed  a  powerful  rowel  into  the  flank  of 
his  mule,  and  the  vigorous  animal  dashed  ahead,  nearly 
upsetting  Diego,  who  was  pressing  hard  on  the  pommel  of 
the  saddle,  by  the  movement. 

"  There  is  mettle  in  that  boy,"  exclaimed  the  good-na 
tured  soldier,  as  he  recovered  his  feet.  "I  thought,  for 
one  moment,  he  was%  about  to  favour  me  with  a  visitation 
of  his  hand." 

"  Thou  art  wrong — and  too  much  accustomed  to  be  heed 
less,  Diego,"  answered  his  comrade ;  "  and  it  had  been  no 
wonder  had  that  youth  struck  thee  to  the  earth,  for  the  in 
dignity  thou  putt'st  upon  him." 

"  Ha !  a  hireling  follower  of  some  cringing  Hebrew !  - 
He  dare  to  strike  a  blow  at  a  soldier  of  the  king !" 

"  He  may  have  been  a  soldier  of  the  king,  himself,  in 
his  day.  These  are  times  when  most  of  his  frame  and 
muscle  are  called  on  to  go  in  harness.  I  think  I  have  seen 
that  face  before ;  ay,  and  that,  too,  where  none  of  craven 
hearts  would  be  apt  to  go." 

"  The  fellow  is  a  mere  varlet,  and  a  younker  that  has 
juit  escaped  from  the  hands  of  the  women." 


20  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"  I  '11  answer  for  it,  that  he  hath  faced  both  the  Catalan 
and  the  Moor,  in  his  time,  young  as  he  may  seem.  Thou 
knowest  that  the  nobles  are  wont  to  carry  their  sons,  as 
children,  early  into  the  fight,  that  they  may  learn  the  deeds 
of  chivalry  betimes." 

"  The  nobles !"  repeated  Diego,  laughing.  "  In  the  name 
of  all  the  devils,  Roderique,  of  what  art  thou  thinking,  that 
thou  likenest  this  knave  to  a  young  noble?  Dost  fancy 
him  a  Guzman,  or  a  Mendoza,  in  disguise,  that  thou  speak 
est  thus  of  chivalry  ?" 

"  True — it  doth,  indeed,  seem  silly — and  yet  have  I  be 
fore  met  that  frown  in  battle,  and  heard  that  sharp,  quick 
voice,  in  a  rally.  By  St.  lago  de  Compostello !  I  have  it ! 
Harkee,  Diego ! — a  word  in  thy  ear." 

The  veteran  now  led  his  more  youthful  comrade  aside, 
although  there  was  no  one  near  to  listen  to  what  he  said ; 
and  looking  carefully  round,  to  make  certain  that  his  words 
would  not  be  overheard,  he  whispered,  for  a  moment,  in 
Diego's  ear.  • 

"  Holy  Mother  of  God !"  exclaimed  the  latter,  recoiling 
quite  three  paces,  in  surprise  and  awe.  "  Thou  canst  not 
be  right,  Roderique !" 

"I  will  place  my  soul's  welfare  on  it,"  returned  the 
other,  positively.  "Have  I  not  often  seen  him  with  his 
visor  up,  and  followed  him,  time  and  again,  to  the  charge?" 

"And  he  setting  forth  as  a  trader's  varlet ! — Nay,  I  know 
not,  but  as  the  servitor  of  a  Jew !" 

"  Our  business,  Diego,  is  to  strike  without  looking  into 
the  quarrel ;  to  look  without  seeing,  and  to  listen  without 
hearing.  Although  his  coffers  are  low,  Don  John  is  a  good 
master,  and  our  anointed  king ;  and  so  we  will  prove  our 
selves  discreet  soldiers." 

"  But  he  will  never  forgive  me  that  gripe  of  the  knee, 
and  my  foolish  tongue.  I  shall  never  dare  meet  him  again." 

"  Humph ! — It  is  not  probable  thou  ever  wilt  meet  him  at 
the  table  of  the  kmg,  and,  as  for  the  field,  as  he  is  wont  to 
go  first,  there  will  not  be  much  temptation  for  him  to  turn 
back  in  order  to  look  at  thee." 

"  Thou  thinkest,  then,  he  will  not  be  apt  to  know  me, 
again  ?" 

"  If  it  should  prove  so,  boy,  thou  need'st  not  take  it  in 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  21 

ill  part ;  as  such  as  he  have  more  demands  on  their  memo 
ries  than  they  can  always  meet." 

"  The  Blessed  Maria  make  thee  a  true  prophet !  —  else 
would  I  never  dare  again  to  appear  in  the  ranks.  Were  it 
a  favour  I  had  conferred,  I  might  hope  it  would  be  forgot 
ten  ;  hut  an  indignity  sticks  long  in  the  memory." 

Here  the  two  soldiers  moved  away,  continuing  the  dis 
course  from  time  to  time,  although  the  elder  frequently  ad 
monished  his  loquacious  companion  of  the  virtue  of  discretion. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  travellers  pursued  their  way,  with 
a  diligence  that  denoted  great  distrust  of  the  roads,  and  as 
great  a  desire  to  get  on.  They  journeyed  throughout  the 
night,  nor  did  there  occur  any  relaxation  in  their  speed, 
until  the  return  of  the  sun  exposed  them,  again,  to  the  ob 
servations  of  the  curious,  among  whom  were  thought  to  be 
many  emissaries  of  Henry  of  Castile,  whose  agents  were 
known  to  be  particularly  on  the  alert,  along  all  the  roads 
that  communicated  between  the  capital  of  Aragon,  and  Val- 
ladolid,  the  city  in  which  his  royal  sister  had  then,  quite 
recently,  taken  refuge.  Nothing  remarkable  occurred,  how 
ever,  to  distinguish  this  journey  from  any  other  of  the  pe 
riod.  There  was  nothing  about  the  appearance  of  the  tra 
vellers,  who  soon  entered  the  territory  of  Soria,  a  province 
of  Old  Castile,  where  armed  parties  of  the  monarch  were 
active  in  watching  the  passes,  to  attract  the  attention  of 
Henry's  soldiers ;  and,  as  for  the  more  vulgar  robber,  he 
was  temporarily  driven  from  the  highways  by  the  presence 
of  those  who  acted  in  the  name  of  the  prince.  As  respects 
the  youth  who  had  given  rise  to  the  discourse  between  the 
two  soldiers,  he  rode  diligently  in  the  rear  of  his  master,  so 
long  as  it  pleased  the  latter  to  remain  in  the  saddle ;  and 
during  the  few  and  brief  pauses  that  occurred  in  the  tra 
velling,  he  busied  himself,  like  the  other  menials,  in  the  du 
ties  of  his  proper  vocation.  On  the  evening  of  the  second 
day,  however,  about  an  hour  after  the  party  had  left  a  hos- 
telrie,  where  it  had  solaced  itself  with  an  olla-podrida  and 
some  sour  wine,  the  merry  young  man  who  has  already 
been  mentioned,  and  who  still  kept  his  place  by  the  side  o*f 
his  graver  and  more  aged  companion  in  the  van,  suddenly 
burst  into  a  fit  of  loud  laughter,  and,  reining  in  his  mule 
he  allowed  the  whole  train  to  pass  him,  until  he  found  him 


22  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

self  by  the  side  of  the  young  menial  already  so  particu 
larly  named.  The  latter  cast  a  severe  and  rebuking  glance 
at  his  reputed  master,  as  he  dropped  in  by  his  side,  and 
said,  with  a  sternness  that  ill  comported  with  their  apparent 
relations  to  each  other — 

"  How  now,  Master  Nunez !  what  hath  called  thee  from 
thy  position  in  the  van,  to  this  unseemly  familiarity  with 
the  varlets  in  the  rear  ?" 

"  I  crave  ten  thousand  pardons,  honest  Juan,"  returned 
the  master,  still  laughing,  though  he  evidently  struggled  to 
repress  his  mirth,  out  of  respect  to  the  other ;  "  but  here 
is  a  calamity  befallen  us,  that  outdoes  those  of  the  fables 
and  legends  of  necromancy  and  knight-errantry.  The 
worthy  Master  Ferreras,  yonder,  who  is  so  skilful  in  hand 
ling  gold,  having  passed  his  whole  life  in  buying  and  sell 
ing  barley  and  oats,  hath  actually  mislaid  the  purse,  which 
it  would  seem  he  hath  forgotten  at  the  inn  we  have  quitted, 
in  payment  of  some  very  stale  bread  and  rancid  oil.  I  doubt 
if  there  are  twenty  reals  left  in  the  whole  party !" 

"  And  is  it  a  matter  of  jest,  Master  Nunez,"  returned  the 
servant,  though  a  slight  smile  struggled  about  his  mouth, 
as  if  ready  to  join  in  his  companion's  merriment ;  "  that 
we  are  penniless  1  Thank  Heaven !  the  Burgo  of  Osma 
cannot  be  very  distant ;  and  we  may  have  less  occasion  for 
gold.  And  now,  master  of  mine,  let  me  command  thee  to 
keep  thy  proper  place  in  this  cavalcade,  and  not  to  forget 
thyself  by  such  undue  familiarity  with  thy  inferiors.  I 
have  no  farther  need  of  thee,  and  therefore  hasten  back  to 
Master  Ferreras  and  acquaint  him  with  my  sympathy  and 
grief." 

The  young  man  smiled,  though  the  eye  of  the  pretended 
servant  was  averted,  as  if  he  cared  to  respect  his  own  ad 
monitions  ;  while  the  other  evidently  sought  a  look  of  re 
cognition  and  favour.  In  another  minute,  the  usual  order 
of  the  journey  was  resumed. 

As  the  night  advanced,  and  the  hour  arrived  when  man 
and  beast  usually  betray  fatigue,  these  travellers  pushed 
their  mules  the  hardest ;  and  about  midnight,  by  dint  of 
hard  pricking,  they  came  under  the  principal  gate  of  a 
small  walled  town,  called  Osma,  that  stood  not  far  from 
the  boundary  of  the  province  of  Burgos,  though  still  in  that 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  23 

of  Soria.  No  sooner  was  his  mule  near  enough  to  the 
gate  to  allow  of  the  freedom,  than  the  young  merchant 
in  advance,  dealt  sundry  blows  on  it,  with  his  staff,  effectu 
ally  apprising  those  within  of  his  presence.  It  required  no 
strong  pull  of  the  reins  to  stop  the  mules  of  those  behind ; 
but  the  pretended  varlet  now  pushed  ahead,  and  was  about 
to  assume  his  place  among  the  principal  personages  near 
the  gate,  when  a  heavy  stone,  hurled  from  the  battlements, 
passed  so  close  to  his  head,  as  vividly  to  remind  him  how 
near  he  might  be  to  making  a  hasty  journey  to  another 
world.  A  cry  arose  in  the  whole  party,  at  this  narrow 
escape ;  nor  were  loud  imprecations  on  the  hand  that  had 
cast  the  missile  spared.  The  youth,  himself,  seemed  the 
least  disturbed  of  them  all;  and  though  his  voice  was 
sharp  and  authoritative,  as  he  raised  it  in  remonstrance, 
it  was  neither  angry  nor  alarmed. 

"  How  now !"  he  said ;  "  is  this  the  way  you  treat  peace 
ful  travellers  ;  merchants,  who  come  to  ask  hospitality  and 
a  night's  repose  at  your  hands  ?" 

"  Merchants  and  travellers !"  growled  a  voice  from  above 
— "  say,  rather,  spies  and  agents  of  King  Henry.  "  Who 
are  ye?  Speak  promptly,  or  ye  may  expect  something 
sharper  than  stones,  at  the  next  visit." 

"  Tell  me,"  answered  the  youth,  as  if  disdaining  to  be 
questioned  himself — "  who  holds  this  borough  ?  Is  it  noi 
the  noble  Count  of  Trevino?" 

"  The  very  same,  Senior,"  answered  he  above,  with  a 
mollified  tone :  "  but  what  can  a  set  of  travelling  traders 
know  of  His  Excellency  ?  and  who  art  thou,  that  speakest 
up  as  sharply  and  as  proudly  as  if  thou  wert  a  grandee  ?" 

"  I  am  Ferdinand  of  Trastamara — the  Prince  of  Aragon 
— the  King  of  Sicily.  Go !  bid  thy  master  hasten  to  the 
gate." 

This  sudden  announcement,  which  was  made  in  the  lofty 
manner  of  one  accustomed  to  implicit  obedience,  produced 
a  marked  change  in  the  state  of  affairs.  The  party  at  the 
gate  so  far  altered  their  several  positions,  that  the  two  su 
perior  nobles  who  had  ridden  in  front,  gave  place  to  the 
youthful  king ;  while  the  group  of  knights  made  such  ar 
rangements  as  showed  that  disguise  was  dropped,  and  each 
man  was  now  expected  to  appear  in  his  proper  character. 


24  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

It  might  have  amused  a  close  and  philosophical  observer 
to  note  the  promptitude  with  which  the  young  cavaliers,  in 
particular,  rose  in  their  saddles,  as  if  casting  aside  the 
lounging  mien  of  grovelling  traders,  in  order  to  appear 
what  they  really  were,  men  accustomed  to  the  tourney  and 
the  field.  On  the  ramparts  the  change  was  equally  sudden 
and  great.  All  appearance  of  drowsiness  vanished ;  the 
soldiers  spoke  to  each  other  in  suppressed  but  hurried 
voices ;  and  the  distant  tramp  of  feet  announced  that  mes 
sengers  were  dispatched  in  various  directions.  Some  ten 
minutes  elapsed  in  this  manner,  during  which  an  inferior 
officer  showed  himself  on  the  ramparts,  and  apologized  for 
a  delay  that  arose  altogether  from  the  force  of  discipline, 
and  on  no  account  from  any  want  of  respect.  At  length  a 
bustle  on  the  wall,  with  the  light  of  many  lanterns,  betrayed 
the  approach  of  the  governor  of  the  town ;  and  the  impa 
tience  of  the  young  men  below,  that  had  begun  to  manifest 
itself  in  half-uttered  execrations,  was  put  under  a  more  de 
cent  restraint  for  the  occasion. 

"Are  the  joyful  tidings  that  my  people  bring  me  true?" 
cried  one  from  the  battlements ;  while  a  lantern  was  low 
ered  from  the  wall,  as  if  to  make  a  closer  inspection  of  the 
party  at  the  gate :  "  Am  I  really  so  honoured,  as  to  receive 
a  summons  from  Don  Ferdinand  of  Aragon,  at  this  un 
usual  hour?" 

"  Cause  thy  fellow  to  turn  his  lantern  more  closely  on 
my  countenance,"  answered  the  king,  "that  thou  may'st 
make  thyself  sure.  I  will  cheerfully  overlook  the  disre 
spect,  Count  of  Trevino,  for  the  advantage  of  a  more 
speedy  admission." 

"  'T  is  he !"  exclaimed  the  noble :  "  I  know  those  royal 
features,  which  bear  the  lineaments  of  a  long  race  of  kings , 
and  that  voice  have  I  heard,  often,  rallying  the  squadrons 
of  Aragon,  in  their  onsets  against  the  Moors.  Let  the 
trumpets  speak  up,  and  proclaim  this  happy  arrival ;  and 
open  wide  our  gates,  without  delay." 

This  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  youthful  king 
entered  Osma,  by  sound  of  trumpet,  encircled  by  &  strong 
party  of  men-at-arms,  and  with  half  of  the  awakened  anid 
astonished  population  at  his  heels. 

"  It  ia  lucky,  my  Lord  King,"  said  Don  Andres  dc  Ca- 


MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE.  25 

brera,  the  young  noble  already  mentioned,  as  he  rode  fa 
miliarly  at  the  side  of  Don  Ferdinand,  "  that  we  have  found 
these  good  lodgings  without  cost ;  it  being  a  melancholy 
truth,  that  Master  Ferreras  hath,  negligently  enough,  mislaid 
the  only  purse  there  was  among  us.  In  such  a  strait,  it 
would  not  hav>e  been  easy  to  keep  up  the  character  of 
thrifty  traders,  much  longer ;  for,  while  the  knaves  higgle 
at  the  price  of  every  thing,  they  are  fond  of  letting  their 
gold  be  seen." 

"  Now  that  we  are  in  thine  own  Castile,  Don  Andres,"  re 
turned  the  king,  smiling,  "  we  shall  throw  ourselves  gladly 
on  thy  hospitality,  well  knowing  that  thou  hast  two  most 
beautiful  diamonds  always  at  thy  command." 

"  I,  Sir  King !  Your  Highness  is  pleased  to  be  merry  at 
my  expense,  although  I  believe  it  is,  just  now,  the  only  gra 
tification  I  can  pay  for.  My  attachment  for  the  Princess 
Isabella  hath  driven  me  from  my  lands  ;  and  even  the  hum 
blest  cavalier  in  the  Aragonese  arrny,  is  not,  just  now, 
poorer  than  I.  What  diamonds,  therefore,  can  I  com 
mand?" 

"  Report  speaketh  favourably  of  the  two  brilliants  that 
are  set  in  the  face  of  the  Dona  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla ;  and 
I  hear  they  are  altogether  at  thy  disposal ;  or,  as  much  so, 
as  a  noble  maiden's  inclinations  can  leave  them  with  a 
loyal  knight." 

"Ah!  my  Lord  King!  if  indeed  this  adventure  end  as 
happily  as  it  commenceth,  I  may,  indeed,  look  to  your  royal 
favour,  for  some  aid  in  that  matter." 

The  king  smiled,  in  his  own  sedate  manner ;  but  the 
Count  de  Trevino  pressing  nearer  to  his  side,  at  that  mo 
ment,  the  discourse  was  changed.  That  night,  Ferdinand 
of  Aragon  slept  soundly ;  but  with  the  dawn,  he  and  his 
followers  were  again  in  the  saddle.  The  party  quitted 
Osma,  however,  in  a  manner  very  different  from  that  in 
which  it  had  approached  its  gate.  Ferdinand  now  appeared 
as  a  knight,  mounted  on  a  noble  Andalusian  charger  ;  and 
all  his  followers  had  still  more  openly  assumed  their  proper 
characters.  A  strong  body  of  lancers,  led  by  the  Count 
of  Trevino,  in  person,  composed  the  escort ;  and  on  the  9th 
of  the  month,  the  whole  cavalcade  reached  Duenas,  in 
Leon,  a  place  quite  near  to  Valladolid.  The  disaffected  no- 
3 


26  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

bles  crowded  about  the  prince  to  pay  their  court,  and  he  was 
received  as  became  his  high  rank  and  still  higher  destinies. 
Here  the  more  luxurious  Castiiians  had  an  opportunity 
of  observing  the  severe  personal  discipline  by  which  Don 
Ferdinand,  at  the  immature  years  of  eighteen,  for  he  was 
scarcely  older,  had  succeeded  in  hardening  his  body,  and 
in  stringing  his  nerves,  so  as  to  be  equal  to  any  deeds  in 
arms.  His  delight  was  found  in  the  rudest  military  exer 
cises  ;  and  no  knight  of  Aragon  could  better  direct  his 
steed  in  the  tourney,  or  in  the  field.  Like  most,  of  the  royal 
races  of  that  period,  and  indeed  of  this,  in  despite  of  the 
burning  sun  under  which  he  dwelt,  his  native  complexion 
was  brilliant,  though  it  had  already  become  embrowned  by 
exposure  in  the  chase,  and  in  the  martial  occupations  of  his 
boyhood.  Temperate  as  a  Mussulman,  his  active  and  well- 
proportioned  frame  seemed  to  be  early  indurating,  as  if 
Providence  held  him  in  reserve,  for  some  of  its  own  dis 
pensations  that  called  for  great  bodily  vigour,  as  well  as  for 
deep  forethought  and  a  vigilant  sagacity.  During  the  four 
or  five  days  that  followed,  the  noble  Castiiians  who  listened 
to  his  discourse,  knew  not  of  which  most  to  approve,  his 
fluent  eloquence,  or  a  wariness  of  thought  and  expression, 
which,  while  they  might  have  been  deemed  prematurely 
worldly  and  cold-blooded,  were  believed  to  be  particular 
merits  in  one  destined  to  control  the  jarring  passions,  deep 
deceptions,  and  selfish  devices,  of  men. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"Leave  to  the  nightingale  her  shady  wood; 

A  privacy  of  glorious  light  is  thine  ; 
Whence  thou  dost  pour  upon  the  world  a  flood 

Of  harmony,  with  rapture  more  divine  ; 
Type  of  the  wise,  who  soar,  but  never  roam ; 
True  to  the  kindred  points  of  Heaven  and  Home." 

WORDSWORTH. 

WHILE  John  of  Aragon  had  recourse  to  such  means  to 
enable  his  son  to  escape  the  vigilant  and  vindictive  emis- 


MERCEDES    Of    CASTILE.  27 

saries  of  the  King  of  Castile,  there  were  anxious  hearts  in 
Valladolid,  awaiting  the  result  with  the  impatience  and 
doubt  that  ever  attend  the  execution  of  hazardous  enter- 
prises.  Among  others  who  felt  this  deep  interest  in  the 
movements  of  Ferdinand  of  Aragon  and  his  companions, 
were  a  few,  whom  it  has  now  become  necessary  to  intro 
duce  to  the  reader. 

Although  Valladolid  had  not  then  reached  the  magnifi 
cence  it  subsequently  acquired  as  the  capital  of  Charles  V., 
it  was  an  ancient,  and,  for  the  age,  a  magnificent  and 
luxurious  town,  possessing  its  palaces,  as  well  as  its  more 
inferior  abodes.  To  the  principal  of  the  former,  the  resi 
dence  of  John  de  Vivero,  a  distinguished  noble  of  the  king 
dom,  we  must  repair  in  imagination ;  where  companions 
more  agreeable  than  those  we  have  just  quitted,  await  us, 
and  who  were  then  themselves  awaiting,  with  deep  anxiety, 
the  arrival  of  a  messenger  with  tidings  from  Duena.  The 
particular  apartment  that  it  will  be  necessary  to  imagine, 
had  much  of  the  rude  splendour  of  the  period,  united  to 
that  air  of  comfort  and  fitness  that  woman  seldom  fails  to 
impart  to  the  portion  of  any  edifice  that  comes  directly  un 
der  her  control.  In  the  year  1469,  Spain  was  fast  ap 
proaching  the  termination  of  that  great  struggle  which  had 
already  endured  seven  centuries,  and  in  which  the  Chris 
tian  and  the  Mussulman  contended  for  the  mastery  of  the 
peninsula.  The  latter  had  long  held  sway  in  the  southern 
parts  of  Leon,  and  had  left  behind  him,  in  the  palaces  of 
this  town,  some  of  the  traces  of  his  barbaric  magnificence. 
The  lofty  and  fretted  ceilings  were  not  as  glorious  as  those 
to  be  found  further  south,  it  is  true ;  still  the  Moor  had  been 
here,  and  the  name  of  Veled  Vlid,  since  changed  to  Valla 
dolid,  denotes  its  Arabic  connection.  In  the  room  just  men 
tioned,  and  in  the  principal  palace  of  this  ancient  town, 
that  of  John  de  Vivero,  were  two  females,  in  earnest  and 
engrossing  discourse.  Both  were  young,  and,  though  in 
very  different  styles,  both  would  have  been  deemed  beau 
tiful  in  any  age  or  region  of  the  earth.  One  indeed,  was 
surpassingly  lovely.  She  had  just  reached  her  nineteenth 
year,  an  age  when  the  female  form  has  received  its  full  de- 
velopement  in  that  generous  climate;  and  the  most  ima 
ginative  poet  of  Spain,  a  country  so  renowned  for  beauty 


28  MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

of  form  in  the  sex,  could  not  have  conceived  of  a  person 
more  symmetrical.  The  hands,  feet,  bust,  and  all  the  out 
lines,  were  those  of  feminine  loveliness ;  while  the  stature, 
without  rising  to  a  height  to  suggest  the  idea  of  any  thing 
masculine,  was  sufficient  to  ennoble  an  air  of  quiet  dignity. 
The  beholder,  at  first,  was  a  little  at  a  loss  to  know  whe 
ther  the  influence  to  which  he  submitted,  proceeded  most 
from  the  perfection  of  the  body  itself,  or  from  the  expres 
sion  that  the  soul  within  imparted  to  the  almost  faultless 
exterior.  The  face  was,  in  all  respects,  worthy  of  the  form. 
Although  born  beneath  the  sun  of  Spain,  her  lineage  car 
ried  her  back,  through  a  long  line  of  kings,  to  the  Gothic 
sovereigns ;  and  its  frequent  intermarriages  with  foreign 
princesses,  had  produced  in  her  countenance,  that  inter 
mixture  of  the  brilliancy  of  the  north,  with  the  witchery 
of  the  south,  that  probably  is  nearest  to  the  perfection 
of  feminine  loveliness. 

Her  complexion  was  fair,  and  her  rich  locks  had  that 
tint  of  the  auburn  which  approaches  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  more  marked  colour  that  gives  it  warmth,  without  at 
taining  any  of  the  latter's  distinctive  hue.  ««  Her  mild  blue 
eyes,"  says  an  eminent  historan,  "  beamed  with  intelligence 
and  sensibility."  In  these  indexes  to  the  soul,  indeed,  were 
to  be  found  her  highest  claims  to  loveliness,  for  they  be 
spoke  no  less  the  beauty  within,  than  the  beauty  without ; 
imparting  to  features  of  exquisite  delicacy  and  symmetry, 
a  serene  expression  of  dignity  and  moral  excellence, 
that  was  remarkably  softened  by  a  modesty  that  seemed  as 
much  allied  to  the  sensibilities  of  a  woman,  as  to  the  purity 
of  an  angel.  To  add  to  all  these  charms,  though  of  royal 
blood,  and  educated  in  a  court,  an  earnest  but  meek  sin 
cerity  presided  over  every  look  and  thought,  as  thought  was 
betrayed  in  the  countenance,  adding  the  illumination  of 
truth  to  the  lustre  of  youth  and  beauty. 

The  attire  of  this  princess  was  simple,  for  happily  the  taste 
of  the  age  enabled  those  who  worked  for  the  toilet  to  con 
sult  the  proportions  of  nature ;  though  the  materials  were 
rich,  and  such  as  became  her  high  rank.  A  single  cross 
of  diamonds  sparkled  on  a  neck  of  snow,  to  which  it  was 
attached  by  a  short  string  of  pearls;  and  a  few  rings, 
decked  with  stones  of  price,  rather  cumbered  than  adorned 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  29 

hands  that  needed  no  ornaments  to  rivet  the  gaze.  Such 
was  Isabella  of  Castile,  in  her  days  of  maiden  retirement 
and  maiden  pride  —  while  waiting  the  issue  of  those 
changes  that  were  about  to  put  their  seal  on  her  own  future 
fortunes,  as  well  as  on  those  of  posterity  even  to  our  own 
times. 

Her  companion  was  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla,  the  friend  of 
her  childhood  and  infancy,  and  who  continued,  to  the  last, 
the  friend  of  her  prime,  and  of  her  death-bed.  This  lady, 
a  little  older  than  the  princess,  was  of  more  decided  Span 
ish  mien,  for,  though  of  an  ancient  and  illustrious  house, 
policy  and  necessity  had  not  caused  so  many  foreign  inter 
marriages  in  her  race,  as  had  been  required  in  that  of  her 
royal  mistress.  Her  eyes  were  black  and  sparkling,  be 
speaking  a  generous  soul,  and  a  resolution  so  high  that 
some  commentators  have  termed  it  valour ;  while  her  hair 
was  dark  as  the  raven's  wing.  Like  that  of  her  royal  mis 
tress,  her  form  exhibited  the  grace  and  loveliness  of  young 
womanhood,  developed  by  the  generous  warmth  of  Spain  ; 
though  her  stature  was,  in  a  slight  degree,  less  noble,  and 
the  outlines  of  her  figure,  in  about  an  equal  nronortion, 
less  perfect.  In  short,  nature  had  drawn  some  such  dis 
tinction  between  the  exceeding  grace  and  hi^h  moral 
charms  that  encircled  the  beauty  of  the  princess,  and  those 
which  belonged  to  her  noble  friend,  as  the  notions  of  men 
had  established  between  their  respective  conditions  ;  though, 
considered  singly,  as  women,  either  would  have  been 
deemed  pre-eminently  winning  and  attractive. 

At  the  moment  we  have  selected  for  the  opening  of  th* 
scene  that  is  to  follow,  Isabella,  fresh  from  the  morninp 
toilet,  was  seated  in  a  chair,  leaning  lightly  on  one  of  its 
arms,  in  an  attitude  that  interest  in  the  subject  she  was  dis 
cussing,  and  confidence  in  her  companion,  had  naturally 
produced  ;  while  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  occupied  a  low  stool 
at  her  feet,  bending  her  body  in  respectful  affection  so  far 
forward,  as  to  allow  the  fairer  hair  of  the  princess  to  min 
gle  with  her  own  dark  curls,  while  the  face  of  the  latter 
appeared  to  repose  on  the  head  of  her  friend.  As  no 
one  else  was  present,  the  reader  will  at  once  infer,  from  the 
entire  absence  of  Castilian  etiquette  and  Spanish  reserve, 
hat  the  dialogue  they  held,  was  strictly  confidential,  and 


30  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

that  it  was  governed  more  by  the  feelings  of  nature,  than 
by  the  artificial  rules  that  usually  regulate  the  intercourse 
of  courts. 

"  I  have  prayed,  Beatriz,  that  God  would  direct  my  judg 
ment  in  this  weighty  concern,"  said  the  princess,  in  con 
tinuation  of  some  previous  observation ;  "and  I  hope  I 
have  as  much  kept  in  view  the  happiness  of  my  future  sub 
jects,  in  the  choice  I  have  made,  as  my  own." 

"  None  shall  presume  to  question  it,"  said  Beatriz  de  Bo- 
badilla;  "for  had  it  pleased  you  to  wed  the  Grand  Turk, 
the  Castilians  would  not  gainsay  your  wish,  such  is  their 
love !" 

"  Say,  rather,  such  is  thy  love  for  me,  my  good  Beatriz, 
that  thou  fanciest  this,"  returned  Isabella,  smiling,  and  rais 
ing  her  face  from  the  other's  head :  "  Our  Castilians  might 
overlook  such  a  sin,  but  I  could  not  pardon  myself  for  for 
getting  that  I  am  a  Christian.  Beatriz,  I  have  been  sorely 
tried,  in  this  matter !" 

"  But  the  hour  of  trial  is  nearly  passed.  Holy  Ma 
ria  !  what  lightness  of  reflection,  and  vanity,  and  misjudg 
ing  of  self,  must  exist  in  man,  to  embolden  some  who  have 
dared  to  aspire  to  become  your  husband !  You  were  yet  a 
child  when  they  betrothed  you  to  Don  Carlos,  a  prince  old 
enough  to  be  your  father ;  and,  then,  as  if  that  were  not 
sufficient  to  warm  Castilian  blood,  they  chose  the  King  of 
Portugal  for  you,  and  he  might  well  have  passed  for  a 
generation  still  more  remote  !  Much  as  I  love  you,  Dona 
Isabella,  and  my  own  soul  is  scarce  dearer  to  me  than  your 
person  and  mind,  for  nought  do  I  respect  you  more,  than 
for  the  noble  and  princely  resolution,  child  as  you  then 
were,  with  which  you  denied  the  king,  in  his  wicked  wish 
to  make  you  Queen  of  Portugal." 

"  Don  Enriquez  is  my  brother,  Beatriz ;  and  thine  and 
my  royal  master." 

"Ah!  bravely  did  you  tell  them  all,"  continued  Beatriz 
de  Bobadilla,  with  sparkling  eyes,  and  a  feeling  of  exulta 
tion  that  caused  her  to  overlook  the  quiet  rebuke  of  her 
mistress ;  "  and  worthy  was  it  of  a  princess  of  the  royal 
house  of  Castile !  « The  Infantas  of  Castile,'  you  said, 
4  could  not  be  disposed  of,  in  marriage,  without  the  consent 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  31 

of  the  nobles  of  the  realm ;'  and  with  that  fit  reply  they 
were  glad  to  be  content." 

"And  yet,  Beatriz,  am  I  about  to  dispose  of  an  Infanta 
of  Castile,  without  even  consulting  its  nobles." 

"  Say  not  that,  my  excellent  mistress.  There  is  not  a 
loyal  and  gallant  cavalier  between  the  Pyrenees  and  the 
sea,  who  will  not,  in  his  heart,  approve  of  your  choice. 
The  character,  and  age,  and  other  qualities  of  the  suitor, 
make  a  sensible  difference  in  these  concerns.  But  unfit  as 
Don  Alfonso  of  Portugal  was,  and  is,  to  be  the  wedded 
husband  of  Dona  Isabella  of  Castile,  what  shall  we  say  to 
the  next  suitor  who  appeared  as  a  pretender  to  your  royal 
hand — -Don  Pedro  Giron,  the  Master  of  Calatrava?  truly 
a  most  worthy  lord  for  a  maiden  of  the  royal  house !  Out 
upon  him !  A  Pacheco  might  think  himself  full  honour 
ably  mated,  could  he  have  found  a  damsel  of  Bobadilla  to 
elevate  his  race !" 

"  That  ill-assorted  union  was  imposed  upon  my  brother 
by  unworthy  favourites ;  and  God,  in  his  holy  providence, 
saw  fit  to  defeat  their  wishes,  by  hurrying  their  intended 
bridegroom  to  an  unexpected  grave !" 

"Ay  !  had  it  not  pleased  his  blessed  will,  so  to  dispose 
of  Don  Pedro,  other  means  would  not  have  been  wanting !" 

"  This  little  hand  of  thine,  Beatriz,"  returned  the  prin 
cess,  gravely,  though  she  smiled  affectionately  on  her  friend 
as  she  took  the  hand  in  question,  "  was  not  made  for  the 
deed  its  owner  menaced." 

"  That  which  its  owner  menaced,"  replied  Beatriz,  with 
eyes  flashing  fire,  "  this  hand  would  have  executed,  before 
Isabella  of  Castile  should  be  the  doomed  bride  of  the  Grand 
Master  of  Calatrava.  What !  was  the  purest,  loveliest, 
virgin  of  Castile,  and  she  of  royal  birth — nay,  the  rightful 
heiress  of  the  crown — to  be  sacrificed  to  a  lawless  libertine, 
because  it  had  pleased  Don  Henry  to  forget  his  station  and 
duties,  and  make  a  favourite  of  a  craven  miscreant !". 

"  Thou  always  forgettest,  Beatriz,  that  Don  Enriquez  is 
our  Lord  the  King,  and  my  royal  brother." 

"  I  do  not  forget,  Senora,  that  you  are  the  royal  sister  of 
our  Lord  the  King,  and  that  Pedro  de  Giron,  or  Pachecho, 
whichever  it  might  suit  the  ancient  Portuguese  page  to  style 
him,  was  altogether  unworthy  to  sit  in  your  presence,  much 


32  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

less  to  become  your  wedded  husband.  Oh  !  what  days  of 
anguish  were  those,  my  gracious  lady,  when  your  knees 
ached  with  bending  in  prayer,  that  this  might  not  be !  But 
God  would  not  permit  it  —  neither  would  I !  That  dagger 
should  have  pierced  his  heart,  before  ear  of  his  should 
have  heard  the  vows  of  Isabella  of  Castile !" 

"  Speak  no  more  of  this,  good  Beatriz,  I  pray  thee,"  said 
the  princess,  shuddering,  and  crossing  herself:  "  they  were, 
in  sooth,  days  of  anguish ;  but  what  were  they  in  com 
parison  with  the  passion  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  gave  him 
self  a  sacrifice  for  our  sins !  Name  it  not,  then ;  it  was 
good  for  my  soul  to  be  thus  tried ;  and  thou  knowest  that 
the  evil  was  turned  from  me1 — more,  I  doubt  not,  by  the 
efficacy  of  our  prayers,  than  by  that  of  thy  dagger.  If 
thou  wilt  speak  of  my  suitors,  surely  there  are  others  better 
worthy  of  the  trouble." 

A  light  gleamed  about  the  dark  eye  of  Beatriz,  and  a 
smile  struggled  towards  her  pretty  mouth ;  for  well  did  she 
understand  that  the  royal,  but  bashful  maiden,  would 
gladly  hear  something  of  him  on  whom  her  choice  had 
finally  fallen.  Although  ever  disposed  to  do  that  which 
was  grateful  to  her  mistress,  with  a  woman's  coquetry,  Bea- 
triz  determined  to  approach  the  more  pleasing  part  of  the 
subject  coyly,  and  by  a  regular  gradation  of  events,  in  the 
order  in  which  they  had  actually  occurred. 

"Then,  there  was  Monsieur  de  Guienne,  the  brother  of 
King  Louis  of  France,"  she  resumed,  affecting  contempt  in 
her  manner;  "he  would  fain  become  the  husband  of  the 
future  Queen  of  Castile !  But  even  our  most  unworthy 
Castilians  soon  saw  the  unfitness  of  that  union.  Their 
pride  was  unwilling  to  run  the  chance  of  becoming  a  fief 
of  France." 

"  That  misfortune  could  never  have  befallen  our  beloved 
Castile,"  interrupted  Isabella  with  dignity:  "  Had  I  espoused 
the  King  of  France  himself,  he  would  have  learned  to  re 
spect  me  as  the  Queen  Proprietor  of  this  ancient  realm,  and 
not  have  looked  upon  me  as  a  subject." 

"  Then,  Senora,"  continued  Beatriz,  looking  up  into  Isa 
bella's  face,  and  laughing  — "  was  your  own  royal  kins 
man,  Don  Ricardo  of  Gloucester ;  he  that  they  say  was 
born  with  teeth,  and  who  carries  already  a  burthen  so 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  3J 

heavy  on  his  back,  that  he  may  well  thank  his  patron  saint 
that  he  is  not  also  to  be  loaded  with  th-3  affairs  of  Castile."* 

"  Thy  tongue  runneth  riot,  Beatriz.  They  tell  me  that 
Don  Ricardo  is  a  noble  and  aspiring  prince,  and  that  he  is, 
one  day,  likely  to  wed  some  princess,  whose  merit  may 
well  console  him  for  his  failure  in  Castile.  But  what  more 
hast  thou  to  offer  concerning  my  suitors  ?" 

"  Nay,  what  more  can  I  say,  my  beloved  mistress?  We 
have  now  reached  Don  Fernando,  literally  the  first,  as  he 
proveth  to  be  the  last,  and,  as  we  know  him  to  be,  the  best 
of  them  all." 

"  I  think  I  have  been  guided  by  the  motives  that  become 
my  birth  and  future  hopes,  in  choosing  Don  Ferdinand," 
said  Isabella,  meekly,  though  she  was  uneasy  in  spite  of 
her  royal  views  of  matrimony;  —  "since  nothing  can  so 
much  tend  to  the  peace  of  our  dear  kingdom,  and  to  the 
success  of  the  great  cause  of  Christianity,  as  to  unite  Cas 
tile  and  Aragon  under  one  crown." 

"  By  uniting  their  sovereigns  in  holy  wedlock,"  returned 
Beatriz,  with  respectful  gravity,  though  a  smile  again  strug 
gled  around  her  pouting  lips.  "  What  if  Don  Fernando  is 
the  most  youthful,  the  handsomest,  the  most  valiant  and 
the  most  agreeable  prince  in  Christendom,  it  is  no  fault  of 
yours,  since  you  did  not  make  him,  but  have  only  accepted 
him  for  a  husband  !" 

"  Nay,  this  exceedeth  discretion  and  respect,  my  good 
Beatriz,"  returned  Isabella,  affecting  to  frown,  even  while 
she  blushed  deeply  at  her  own  emotions,  and  looked  gratified 
at  the  praises  of  her  betrothed.  "  Thou  knowest  that  I 
have  never  beheld  my  cousin,  the  King  of  Sicily." 

"  Very  true,  Senora  ;  but  Father  Alonso  de  Coca  hath  — 
and  a  surer  eye,  or  truer  tongue  than  his,  do  not  exist  in 
Castile." 

"  Beatriz,  I  pardon  thy  license,  however  unjust  and  un 
seemly,  because  I  know  thou  lovest  me,  and  lookest  rather 
at  mine  own  happiness,  than  at  that  of  my  people,"  said 


*  NOTE. — The  authorities  differ  as  to  which  of  the  English  princes 
was  the  suitor  of  Isabella ;  Edward  IV.  himself,  Clarence,  or  Richard. 
Isabella  was  the  grand-daughter  of  Catherine  of  Lancaster,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  John  of  Gaunt. 


34  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  princess,  the  effect  of  whose  gravity  now  vjas  not  di 
minished  by  any  betrayal  of  natural  feminine  weakness — • 
for  she  felt  slightly  offended.  "  Thou  knowest,  or  ought'st 
to  know,  that  a  maiden  of  royal  birth  is  bound  principally 
to  consult  the  interests  of  the  state,  in  bestowing  her  hand, 
and  that  the  idle  fancies  of  village  girls  have  little  in  com 
mon  with  her  duties.  Nay,  what  virgin  of  noble  extraction 
like  thyself,  even,  would  dream  of  aught  else  than  of  sub 
mitting  to  the  counsel  of  her  family,  in  taking  a  husband? 
If  I  have  selected  Don  Fernando  of  Aragon,  from  among 
many  princes,  it  is  doubtless  because  the  alliance  is  more 
suited  to  the  interests  of  Castile,  than  any  other  that  hath 
offered.  Thou  seest,  Beatriz,  that  the  Castilians  and  the 
Aragonese  spring  from  the  same  source,  and  have  the  same 
habits  and  prejudices.  They  speak  the  same  language" — 

"Nay,  dearest  lady,  do  not  confound  the  pure  Castilian 
with  the  dialect  of  the  mountains !" 

"  Well,  have  thy  fling,  wayward  one,  if  thou  wilt ;  but 
we  can  easier  teach  the  nobles  of  Aragon  our  purer  Span 
ish,  than  we  can  teach  it  to  the  Gaul.  Then,  Don  Fer 
nando  is  of  my  own  race;  the  House  of  Trastamara  com- 
eth  of  Castile  and  her  monarchs,  and  we  may  at  least  hope 
that  the  King  of  Sicily  will  be  able  to  make  himself  under 
stood." 

"  If  he  could  not,  he  were  no  true  knight !  The  man 
whose  tongue  should  fail  him,  when  the  stake  was  a  royal 
maiden  of  a  beauty  surpassing  that  of  the  dawn  —  of  an 
excellence  that  already  touches  on  heaven — of  a  crown" 

"  Girl— girl— thy  tongue  is  getting  the  mastery  of  thee 
— such  discourse  ill  befitteth  thee  and  me." 

"And  yet,  Dona  Ysabel,  my  tongue  is  close  bound  to  my 
heart." 

"  I  do  believe  thee,  my  good  Beatriz ;  but  we  should  be 
think  us  both,  of  our  last  shrivings,  and  of  the  ghostly  coun 
sel  that  we  then  received.  Such  flattering  discourse  seemeth 
light,  when  we  remember  our  manifold  transgressions, 
and  our  many  occasions  for  forgiveness.  As  for  This  mar 
riage,  I  would  have  thee  think  that  it  has  been  contracted 
on  my  part,  with  the  considerations  and  motives  of  a  prin- 
cess,  and  not  through  any  light  indulgence  of  my  fancies. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  35 

Thou  knowest  that  I  have  never  beheld  Don  Fernando,  and 
that  he  hath  never  even  looked  upon  me." 

"Assuredly,  dearest  lady  and  honoured  mistress,  all  this 
I  know,  and  see,  and  believe ;  and  I  also  agree  that  it  were 
unseemly,  and  little  befitting  her  birth,  for  even  a  noble 
maiden  to  contract  the  all-important  obligations  of  mar 
riage,  with  no  better  motive  than  the  light  impulses  of  a 
country  wench.  Nothing  is  more  just  than  that  we  are 
alike  bound  to  consult  our  own  dignity,  and  the  wishes  of 
kinsmen  and  friends  ;  and  that  our  duty,  and  the  habits  of 
piety  and  submission  in  which  we  have  been  reared,  are 
better  pledges  for  our  connubial  affection,  than  any  caprices 
of  a  girlish  imagination.  Still,  my  honoured  lady,  it  is  most 
fortunate  that  your  high  obligations  point  to  one  as  youth 
ful,  brave,  noble  and  chivalrous,  as  is  the  King  of  Sicily, 
as  we  well  know,  by  Father  Aloriso's  representations,  to  be 
the  fact ;  and  that  all  my  friends  unite  in  saying  that  Don 
Andres  de  Cabrera,  madcap  and  silly  as  he  is,  will  make  an 
exceedingly  excellent  husband  for  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  !" 

Isabella,  habitually  dignified  and  reserved  as  she  was, 
had  her  confidants  and  her  moments  for  unbending ;  and 
Beatriz  was  the  principal  among  the  former,  while  the  pre 
sent  instant  was  one  of  the  latter.  She  smiled,  therefore, 
at  this  sally  ;  and  parting,  with  her  own  fair  hand,  the  dark 
locks  on  the  brow  of  her  friend,  she  regarded  her  much  as 
the  mother  regards  her  child,  when  sudden  passages  of  ten 
derness  come  over  the  heart. 

"  If  madcap  should  wed  madcap,  thy  friends,  at  least, 
have  judged  rightly,"  answered  the  princess.  Then,  paus 
ing  an  instant,  as  if  in  deep  thought,  she  continued,  in  a 
graver  manner,  though  modesty  shone  in  her  tell-tale  com 
plexion,  and  the  sensibility  that  beamed  in  her  eyes  be 
trayed  that  she  now  felt  more  as  a  woman  than  as  a  future 
queen  bent  only  on  the  happiness  of  her  people:  "As  this 
interview  draweth  near,  I  suffer  an  embarrassment  I  had 
not  thought  it  easy  to  inflict  on  an  Infanta  of  Castile.  To 
thee,  my  faithful  Beatriz,  I  will  acknowledge,  that  were  the 
King  of  Sicily  as  old  as  Don  Alfonso  of  Portugal,  or  were 
he  as  effeminate  and  unmanly  as  Monsieur  of  Guienne ; 
were  he,  in  sooth,  less  engaging  and  young,  I  should  feel 


«3t5  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

less  embarrassment  in  meeting  him,  than  I  now  expe 
rience." 

"  This  is  passing  strange,  Senora  !  Now,  I  will  confess 
that  I  would  not  willingly  abate  in  Don  Andres,  one  hour 
of  his  life,  which  has  been  sufficiently  long  as  it  is ;  one 
grace  of  his  person,  if  indeed  the  honest  cavalier  hath 
any  to  boast  of;  or  one  single  perfection  of  either  body  or 
mind." 

"  Thy  case  is  not  mine,  Beatriz.  Thou  knowest  the 
Marquis  of  Moya ;  hast  listened  to  his  discourse,  and  art 
accustomed  to  his  praises  and  his  admiration." 

"  Holy  St.  lago  of  Spain  !  Do  not  distrust  any  thing, 
Senora,  on  account  of  unfamiliarity  with  such  matters  — 
for,  of  all  learning,  it  is  easiest  to  learn  to  relish  praise  and 
admiration !" 

"  True,  daughter"—  (for  so  Isabella  often  termed  her 
friend,  though  her  junior :  in  later  life,  and  after  the  prin 
cess  had  become  a  queen,  this,  indeed,  was  her  usual  term 
of  endearment) — "  true,  daughter,  when  praise  and  admira 
tion  are  freely  given  and  fairly  merited.  But  I  distrust, 
myself,  my  claims  to  be  thus  viewed,  and  the  feelings  with 
which  Don  Fernando  may  first  behold  me.  I  know — nay, 
I  feel  him  to  be  graceful,  and  noble,  and  valiant,  and  gene 
rous,  and  good ;  comely  to  the  eye,  and  strict  of  duty  to 
our  holy  religion ;  as  illustrious  in  qualities,  as  in  birth ; 
and  I  tremble  to  think  of  my  own  unsuitableness  to  be  his 
bride  and  queen." 

"  God's  Justice !  —  I  should  like  to  meet  the  impudent 
Aragonese  noble,  that  would  dare  to  hint  as  much  as  this ' 
If  Don  Fernando  is  noble,  are  you  not  nobler,  Senora,  as 
coming  of  the  senior  branch  of  the  same  house ;  if  he  is 
young,  are  you  not  equally  so ;  if  he  is  wise,  are  you  not 
wiser ;  if  he  is  comely,  are  you  not  more  of  an  angel  than 
a  woman ;  if  he  is  valiant,  are  you  not  virtuous ;  if  he  is 
graceful,  are  you  not  grace  itself;  if  he  is  generous,  are 
you  not  good,  and,  what  is  more,  are  you  not  the  very  soul 
of  generosity  ;  if  he  is  strict  of  duty  in  matters  of  our  holy 
religion,  are  you  not  an  angel  ?" 

"  Good  sooth  —  good  sooth  —  Beatriz,  thou  art  a  com 
forter  !  I  could  reprove  thee  for  this  idle  tongue,  but  1 
know  thee  honest." 


JlEltCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  37 

*'  This  is  no  more  than  that  deep  modesty,  honoured  mis 
tress,  which  ever  maketh  you  quicker  to  see  the  merits  of 
others,  than  to  perceive  your  own.  Let  Don  Fernando 
look  to  it !  Though  he  come  in  all  the  pomp  and  glory  of 
his  many  crowns,  I  warrant  you  we  find  him  a  royal 
maiden  in  Castile,  who  shall  abash  him  and  rebuke  his 
vanity,  even  while  she  appears  before  him  in  the  sweet 
guise  of  her  own  meek  nature !" 

"  I  have  said  naught  of  Don  Fernando's  vanity,  Beatriz 
—  nor  do  I  esteem  him  in  the  least  inclined  to  so  weak  a 
feeling ;  and  as  for  pomp,  we  well  know  that  gold  no  more 
abounds  at  Zaragosa  than  at  Valladolid,  albeit  he  hath 
many  crowns,  in  possession,  and  in  reserve.  Notwithstand 
ing  all  thy  foolish  but  friendly  tongue  hath  uttered,  I  dis 
trust  myself,  and  not  the  King  of  Sicily.  Mcthinks  I  could 
meet  any  other  prince  in  Christendom  with  indifference  — 
or,  at  least,  as  becometh  my  rank  and  sex  ;  but  I  confess, 
I  tremble  at  the  thought  of  encountering  the  eyes  and 
opinions  of  my  noble  cousin." 

Beatriz  listened  with  interest ;  and  when  her  royal  mis 
tress  ceased  speaking,  she  kissed  her  hand  affectionately, 
and  then  pressed  it  to  her  heart. 

"  Let  Don  Fernando  tremble,  rather,  Senora,  at  encoun 
tering  yours,"  she  answered. 

"Nay,  Beatriz,  we  know  that  he  nat'h  nothing  to  dread, 
for  report  speaketh  but  too  favourably  of  him.  But,  why 
linger  here  in  doubt  and  apprehension,  when  the  staff  on 
which  it  is  rny  duty  to  lean,  is  ready  to  receive  its  burthen : 
Father  Alonso  doubtless  waiteth  for  us,  and  we  will  now 
join  him." 

The  princess  and  her  friend  now  repaired  to  the  chapel 
of  the  palace,  where  her  confessor  celebrated  the  daily 
mass.  The  self-distrust  which  disturbed  the  feelings  of  the 
modest  Isabella  was  appeased  by  the  holy  rites,  or  rather 
it  took  refuge  on  that  Rock  where  she  was  accustomed  to 
place  all  her  troubles,  with  her  sins.  As  the  little  assem 
blage  left  the  chapel,  one,  hot  with  haste,  arrived  with  the 
expected,  but  still  doubted  tidings,  that  the  King  of  Sicily 
had  reached  Duefias  in  safety,  and  that,  as  he  was  now  in 
the  very  centre  of  his  supporters,  there  could  no  longer  be 
4 


39  MEHCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

any  reasonable  distrust  of  the  speedy  celebration   of  the 
contemplated  marriage. 

Isabella  was  much  overcome  with  this  news,  and  re 
quired  more  than  usual  of  the  care  of  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla,  - 
to  restore  her  to  that  sweet  serenity  of  mind  and  air,  which 
ordinarily  rendered  her  presence  as  attractive  as  it  was 
commanding.  An  hour  or  two  spent  in  meditation  and 
prayer,  however,  finally  produced  a  gentle  calm  in  her  feel 
ings,  and  these  two  friends  were  again  alone,  in  the  very 
apartment  where  we  first  introduced  them  to  the  reader. 

"  Hast  thou  seen  Don  Andres  de  Cabrera  ?**  demanded 
the  princess,  taking  a  hand  from  a  brow  which  had  been 
often  pressed  in  a  sort  of  bewildered  recollection. 

Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  blushed — and  then  she  laitghed  out 
right,  with  a  freedom  that  the  long-established  affection  of 
her  mistress  did  not  rebuke. 

"For  a  youth  of  thirty,  arid  a  cavalier  well  hacked  in 
the  wars  of  the  Moors,  Don  Andres  hath  a  nimble  foot," 
she'  answered.  "  He  brought  hither  the  tidings  of  the  ar 
rival  ;  and  with  it  he  brought  his  own  delightful  person,  to 
show  it  was  no  lie.  For  one  so  experienced,  he  hath  a 
strong  propensity  to  talk ;  and  so,  in  sooth,  whilst  you,  my 
honoured  mistress,  would  be  in  your  closet  alone,  I  could 
but  listen  to  all  the  marvels  of  the  journey.  It  seems,  Se- 
nora,  that  they  did  not  reach  Duenas  any  too  soon ;  for  the 
only  purse  among  them  was  mislaid,  or  blown  away  by  the 
wind  on  account  of  its  lightness." 

"  I  trust  this  accident  hath  been  repaired.  Few  of  the 
house  of  Trastamara  have  much  gold  at  this  trying  mo 
ment,  and  yet  none  are  wont  to  be  entirely  without  it." 

"  Don  Andres  is  neither  beggar  nor  miser.  He  is  now 
in  our  Castile,  where  I  doubt  not  he  is  familiar  with  the 
Jews  and  money-lenders ;  as  these  last  must  know  the 
full  value  of  his  lands,  the  King  of  Sicily  will  not  want. 
I  hear,  too,  that  the  Count  of  Trevino  hath  conducted  no 
bly  with  him." 

"  It  shall  be  well  for  the  Count  of  Trevino  that  he  hath 
had  this  liberality.  But,  Beatriz,  bring  forth  the  writing 
materials  ;  it  is  meet  that  I,  at  once,  acquaint  Don  Enriquez 
with  this  event,  and  with  my  purpose  of  marriage." 

"  Nay,  dearest  mistress,  this  is  out  of  all  rule.    When  a 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  39 

maiden,  gentle  or  simple,  intendeth  marriage  against  her 
kinsmen's  wishes,  it  is  the  way  to  wed  first,  and  to  write 
the  letter  and  ask  the  blessing  when  the  evil  is  done." 

"  Go  to,  light-of-speech  !  Thou  hast  spoken  ;  now  bring 
the  pens  and  paper.  The  king  is  not  only  my  lord  and 
sovereign,  but  he  is  my  nearest  of  kin,  and  should  be  my 
father." 

"And  Dona  Joanna  of  Portugal,  his  royal  consort,  and 
our  illustrious  queen,  should  be  your  mother ;  and  a  fitting 
guide  would  she  be  to  any  modest  virgin!  No  —  no  — 
my  beloved  mistress ;  your  royal  mother  was  the  Dona 
Isabella  of  Portugal  —  and  a  very  different  princess  was 
she  from  this,  her  wanton  niece." 

"  Thou  givest  thyself  too  much  license,  Dona  Beatriz, 
and  forgettest  my  request.  I  desire  to  write  to  my  brother 
the  king." 

It  was  so  seldom  that  Isabella  spoke  sternly,  that  her 
friend  started,  and  the  tears  rushed  to  her  eyes  at  this  re 
buke  ;  but  she  procured  the  writing  materials,  before  she 
presumed  to  look  into  Isabella's  face,  in  order  to  ascertain 
if  she  .were  really  angered.  There  all  was  beautiful  se 
renity  again  ;  and  the  Lady  of  Bobadilla,  perceiving  that 
her  mistress's  mind  was  altogether  occupied  with  the  matter 
before  her,  and  that  she  had  already  forgotten  her  displea 
sure,  chose  to  make  no  further  allusion  to  the  subject. 

Isabella  now  wrote  her  celebrated  letter,  in  which  she 
appeared  to  forget  all  her  natural  timidity,  and  to  speak 
solely  as  a  princess.  By  the  treaty  of  Toros  de  Guisando, 
in  which,  setting  aside  the  claims  of  Joanna  of  Portugal's 
daughter,  she  had  been  recognized  as  the  heiress  of  the 
throne,  it  had  been  stipulated  that  she  should  not  marry 
without  the  king's  consent ;  and  she  now  apologized  for  the 
step  she  was  about  to  take,  on  the  substantial  plea  that  her 
enemies  had  disregarded  the  solemn  compact  entered  into 
not  to  urge  her  into  any  union  that  was  unsuitable  or  dis 
agreeable  to  herself.  She  then  alluded  to  the  political  ad 
vantages  that  would  follow  the  union  of  the  crowns  of 
Castile  and  Aragon,  and  solicited  the  king's  approbation 
of  the  step  she  was  about  to  take.  This  letter,  after  having 
been  submitted  to  John  de  Vivero,  and  others  of  her  coun 
cil,  was  dispatched  by  a  special  messenger  —  after  which 


40  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

act  the  arrangements  necessary  as  preliminaries  to  a  meet 
ing  between  the  betrothed  were  entered  into.  Castilian  eti« 
quette  was  proverbial,  even  in  that  age ;  and  the  discussion 
led  to  a  proposal  that  Isabella  rejected  with  her  usual  mo 
desty  and  discretion. 

"It  seemeth  to  me,"  said  John  de  Vivero,  " that  this  alli 
ance  should  not  take  place  without  some  admission,  on  the 
part  of  Don  Fernando,  of  the  inferiority  of  Aragon  to  our 
own  Castile.  The  House  of  the  latter  kingdom  is  but  a 
junior  branch  of  the  reigning  House  of  Castile,  and  the 
former  territory  of  old  was  admitted  to  have  a  dependency 
on  the  latter." 

This  proposition  was  much  applauded,  until  the  beautiful 
and  natural  sentiments  of  the  princess,  herself,  interposed 
to  expose  its  weakness  and  its  deformities. 

"  It  is  doubtless  true,"  she  said,  "  that  Don  Juan  of  Ara 
gon  is  the  son  of  the  younger  brother  of  my  royal  grand 
father  ;  but  he  is  none  the  less  a  king.  Nay,  besides  his 
crown  of  Aragon,  a  country,  if  thou  wilt,  which  is  inferior 
to  Castile,  he  hath  those  of  Naples  and  Sicily ;  not  to 
speak  of  Navarre,  over  which  he  ruleth,  although  it  may 
not  be  with  too  much  right.  Don  Fernando  even  weareth 
the  crown  of  Sicily,  by  the  renunciation  of  Don  Juan  ;  and 
shall  he,  a  crowned  sovereign,  make  concessions  to  one 
who  is  barely  a  princess,  and  whom  it  may  never  please 
God  to  conduct  to  a  throne  1  Moreover,  Don  John  of  Vi 
vero,  I  beseech  thee  to  remember  the  errand  that  bringeth 
the  King  of  Sicily  to  Valladolid.  Both  he  and  I  have  two 
parts  to  perform,  and  two  characters  to  maintain — those  of 
prince  and  princess,  and  those  of  Christians  wedded  and 
bound  by  holy  marriage  ties.  It  would  ill  become  one  that 
is  about  to  take  on  herself  the  duties  and  obligations  of  a 
wife,  to  begin  the  intercourse  with  exactions  that  should  be 
humiliating  to  the  pride  and  self-respect  of  her  lord.  Ara 
gon  may  truly  be  an  inferior  realm  to  Castile  —  but  Fer 
dinand  of  Arafijon  is  even  now  every  way  the  equal  of 
Isabella  of  Castile ;  and  when  he  shall  receive  my  vows, 
and,  with  them,  my  duty  and  my  affections" — Isabella's 
colour  deepened,  and  her  mild  eye  lighted  with  a  sort  of 
holy  enthusiasm — "  as  befitteth  a  woman,  though  an  in- 
Idel,  he  would  become,  in  some  particulars,  my  superior. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  41 

Let  me,  then,  hear  no  more  of  this ;  for  it  could  not  nearly 
as  much  pain  Don  Fernando  to  make  the  concessions  ye 
require,  as  it  paineth  me  to  hear  of  them." 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  Nice  customs  curt'sy  to  great  kings.  Dear  Kate,  you  and  I  can 
not  be  confined  within  the  weak  list  of  a  country's  fashion.  We  are 
the  makers  of  manners ;  and  the  liberty  that  follows  our  places,  stops 
the  mouths  of  all  fault-finders." — Henry  V. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  her  high  resolution,  habitual  firm 
ness,  and  a  serenity  of  mind,  that  seemed  to  pervade  the 
moral  system  of  Isabella,  like  a  deep,  quiet  current  of  en 
thusiasm,  but  which  it  were  truer  to  assign  to  the  high  and 
fixed  principles  that  guided  all  her  actions,  her  heart  beat 
tumultuously,  and  her  native  reserve,  which  almost 
amounted  to  shyness,  troubled  her  sorely,  as  the  hour  ar 
rived  when  she  was  first  to  behold  the  prince  she  had  ac 
cepted  for  a  husband.  Castilian  etiquette,  no  less  than  the 
magnitude  of  the  political  interests  involved  in  the  intended 
union,  had  drawn  out  the  preliminary  negotiations  several 
days ;  the  bridegroom  being  left,  all  that  time,  to  curb  his 
impatience  to  behold  the  princess,  as  best  he  might. 

On  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  October,  1469,  however, 
every  obstacle  being  at  length  removed,  Don  Fernando 
threw  himself  into  the  saddle,  and,  accompanied  by  only 
four  attendants,  among  whom  was  Andres  de  Cabrera,  he 
quietly  took  his  way,  without  any  of  the  usual  accompani 
ments  of  his  high  rank,  towards  the  palace  of  John  of 
Vivero,  in  the  city  of  Valladolid.  The  Archbishop  of  To 
ledo  was  of  the  faction  of  the  princess,  and  this  prelate,  a 
warlike  and  active  partisan,  was  in  readiness  to  receive  the 
accepted  suitor,  and  to  conduct  him  to  the  presence  of  his 
mistress. 

Isabella,  attended  only  by  Beatnz  de  Bobadilla,  was  in 
waiting  for  the  interview,  in  the  apartment  already  men- 


42  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

tioned ;  and  by  one  of  those  mighty  efforts  that  even  the 
most  retiring  of  the  sex  can  make,  on  great  occasions,  she 
received  her  future  husband  with  quite  as  much  of  the  dig 
nity  of  a  princess  as  of  the  timidity  of  a  woman.  Fer 
dinand  of  Aragon  had  been  prepared  to  meet  one  of  sin 
gular  grace  and  beauty  ;  but  the  mixture  of  angelic  modesty 
with  a  loveliness  that  almost  surpassed  that  of  her  sex. 
produced  a  picture  approaching  so  much  nearer  to  heaven 
than  to  earth,  that,  though  one  of  circumspect  behaviour, 
and  much  accustomed  to  suppress  emotion,  he  actually 
started,  and  his  feet  were  momentarily  riveted  to  the  floor, 
when  the  glorious  vision  first  met  his  eye.  Then,  recover 
ing  himself,  he  advanced  eagerly,  and  taking  the  little  hand 
which  neither  met  nor  repulsed  the  attempt,  he  pressed  it 
to  his  lips  with  a  warmth  that  seldom  accompanies  the  first 
interviews  of  those  whose  passions  are  usually  so  facti 
tious. 

"  This  happy  moment  hath  at  length  arrived,  my  illus 
trious  and  beautiful  cousin !"  he  said,  with  a  truth  of  feel 
ing  that  went  directly  to  the  pure  and  tender  heart  of  Isa 
bella;  for  no  skill  in  courtly  phrases  can  ever  give  to  the 
accents  of  deceit,  the  point  and  emphasis  that  belong  to 
sincerity.  "  I  have  thought  it  would  never  arrive ;  but 
this  blessed  moment  —  thanks  to  our  own  St.  lago,  whom 
I  have  not  ceased  to  implore  with  intercessions — more  than 
rewards  me  for  all  anxieties." 

"  I  thank  my  Lord  the  Prince,  and  bid  him  right  wel 
come,"  modestly  returned  Isabella.  "  The  difficulties  that 
have  been  overcome,  in  order  to  effect  this  meeting,  are  but 
types  of  the  difficulties  we  shall  have  to  conquer  as  we 
advance  through  life." 

Then  followed  a  few  courteous  expressions  concerning 
the  hopes  of  the  princess  that  her  cousin  had  wanted  for 
nothing,  since  his  arrival  in  Castile,  with  suitable  answers  ; 
when  Don  Ferdinand  led  her  to  an  armed-chair,  assuming 
himself  the  stool  on  which  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  was  wont 
to  be  seated,  in  her  familiar  intercourse  with  her  royal  mis 
tress.  Isabella,  however,  sensitively  alive  to  the  preten 
sions  of  the  Castilians,  who  were  fond  of  asserting  the  su 
periority  of  their  own  country  over  that  of  Aragon,  would 
not  quietly  submit  to  this  arrangement,  but  declined  to  be 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  43 

seated,  unless  her  suitor  would  take  the  chair  prepared  for 
him  also,  saying — 

"  It  ill  befitted!  one  who  hath  little  more  than  some  roy 
alty  of  blood,  and  her  dependence  on  God,  to  be  thus 
placed,  while  the  King  of  Sicily  is  so  unworthily  be 
stowed." 

"  Let  me  entreat  that  it  may  be  so,"  returned  the  king 
"  All  considerations  of  earthly  rank  vanish  in  this  presence 
view  me  as  a  knight,  ready  and  desirous  of  proving  his 
fealty  in  any  court  or  field  of  Christendom,  and  treat  me  as 
such." 

Isabella,  who  had  that  high  tact  which  teaches  the  precise 
point  where  breeding  becomes  neuter  and  airs  commence, 
blushed  and  smiled,  but  no  longer  declined  to  be  seated.  It 
was  not  so  much  the  mere  words  of  her  cousin  that  went 
to  her  heart,  as  the  undisguised  admiration  of  his  looks, 
the  animation  of  his  eye,  and  the  frank  sincerity  of  his  man- 
ner.  With  a  woman's  instinct  she  perceived  that  the  im 
pression  she  had  made  was  favourable,  and,  with  a  woman's 
sensibility,  her  heart  was  ready,  under  the  circumstances, 
to  dissolve  in  tenderness  at  the  discovery.  This  mutual 
satisfaction  soon  opened  the  way  to  a  freer  conversation — 
and,  ere  half  an  hour  was  passed,  the  archbishop,  who, 
though  officially  ignorant  of  the  language  and  wishes  of 
lovers,  was  practically  sufficiently  familiar  with  both,  con 
trived  to  draw  the  two  or  three  courtiers  who  were  present, 
into  an  adjoining  room,  where,  though  the  door  continued 
open,  he  placed  \hern  with  so  much  discretion  that  neither 
eye  nor  ear  could  be  any  restraint  on  what  was  passing. 
As  for  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla,  whom  female  etiquette  required 
should  remain  in  the  same  room  with  her  royal  mistress, 
she  was  so  much  engaged  with  Andres  de  Cabrera,  that 
half  a  dozen  thrones  might  have  been  disposed  of  between 
the  royal  pair,  and  she  none  the  wiser. 

Although  Isabella  did  not  lose  that  mild  reserve  and 
feminine  modesty  that  threw  so  winning  a  grace  around 
her  person,  even  to  the  day  of  her  death,  she  gradually 
grew  more  calm  as  the  discourse  proceeded;  and  falling 
back  on  her  self-respect,  womanly  dignity,  and,  not  a  little, 
on  those  stores  of  knowledge  that  she  had  been  diligently 
collecting,  while  others  similarly  situated  had  wasted  their 


44  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

time  in  the  vanities  of  courts,  she  was  quickly  at  her  ease, 
if  not  wholly  in  that  tranquil  state  of  mind  to  which  she 
had  been  accustomed. 

"  I  trust  there  can  now  be  no  longer  any  delay  to  the 
celebration  of  our  union,  by  holy  church,"  observed  the 
king,  in  continuation  of  the  subject.  "All  that  can  be  re 
quired  of  us  both,  as  those  entrusted  with  the  cares  and 
interests  of  realms,  hath  been  observed,  and  I  may  have  a 
claim  to  look  to  my  own  happiness.  We  are  not  strangers 
to  each  other,  Dona  Isabella ;  for  our  grandfathers  were 
brothers  —  and  from  infancy  up,  have  I  been  taught  to 
reverence  thy  virtues,  and  to  strive  to  emulate  thy  holy 
duty  to  God." 

"  I  have  not  betrothed  myself  lightly,  Don  Fernando," 
returned  the  princess,  blushing  even  while  she  assumed  the 
majesty  of  a  queen  ;  "  and  with  the  subject  so  fully  dis 
cussed,  the  wisdom  of  the  union  so  fully  established,  and 
the  necessity  of  promptness  so  apparent,  no  idle  delays 
shall  proceed  from  me.  I  had  thought  that  the  ceremony 
might  be  had  on  the  fourth  day  from  this,  which  will  give 
us  both  time  to  prepare  for  an  occasion  so  solemn,  by 
suitable  attention  to  the  offices  of  the  church." 

"  It  must  be  as  thou  wiliest,"  said  the  king,  respectfully 
bowing ;  "  and  now  there  remaineth  but  a  few  preparations, 
and  we  shall  have  no  reproaches  of  forgetfulness.  Thou 
knowest,  Dona  Isabella,  how  sorely  my  father  is  beset  by 
his  enemies,  and  I  need  scarce  tell  thee  that  his  coffers  are 
empty.  In  good  sooth,  my  fair  cousin,  nothing  but  my 
earnest  desire  to  possess  myself,  at  as  early  a  day  as  pos 
sible,  of  the  precious  boon  that  Providence  and  thy  good 
ness" — 

"Mingle  not,  Don  Fernando,  any  of  the  acts  of  God 
and  his  providence,  with  the  wisdom  and  petty  expedients 
of  his  creatures,"  said  Isabella,  earnestly. 

"  To  seize  upon  the  precious  boon,  then,  that  Providence 
appeared  willing  to  bestow,"  rejoined  the  king,  crossing 
himself,  while  he  bowed  his  head,  as  much,  perhaps,  in 
deference  to  the  pious  feelings  of  his  affianced  wife,  as  in 
deference  to  a  higher  Power — "  would  not  admit  of  delay, 
and  we  quitted  Zaragosa  better  provided  with  hearts  loyal 
towards  the  treasures  we  were  to  find  in  Valladolid,  than 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  45 

with  gold.  Even  that  we  had,  by  a  miachance,  hath  gone 
to  enrich  some  lucky  varlet  in  an  inn." 

"  Dofia  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  hath  acquainted  me  with  the 
mishap,"  said  Isabella,  smiling  j  "  and  truly  we  shall  com 
mence  our  married  lives  with  but  few  of  the  goods  of  the 
world  in  present  possession.  I  have  little  more  to  offer 
thee,  Fernando,  than  a  true  heart,  and  a  spirit  that  I  think 
may  be  trusted  for  its  fidelity." 

"  In  obtaining  thee,  my  excellent  cousin,  I  obtain  suffi 
cient  to  satisfy  the  desires  of  any  reasonable  man.  Still, 
something  is  due  to  our  rank  and  future  prospects,  and 
it  shall  not  be  said  that  thy  nuptials  passed  like  those  of  a 
common  subject." 

"  Under  ordinary  circumstances  it  might  not  appear 
seemly  for  one  of  my  sex  to  furnish  the  means  for  her 
own  bridal,"  answered  the  princess,  the  blood  stealing  to 
her  face  until  it  crimsoned  even  her  brow  and  temples ; 
maintaining,  otherwise,  that  beautiful  tranquillity  of  mien 
which  marked  her  ordinary  manner — "  but  the  well-being 
of  two  states  depending  on  our  union,  vain  emotions  must 
be  suppressed.  I  am  not  without  jewels,  and  Valladolid 
hath  many  Hebrews :  thou  wilt  permit  me  to  part  with  the 
baubles  for  such  an  object." 

"  So  that  thou  preservest  for  me  the  jewel  in  which  that 
pure  mind  is  encased,"  said  the  King  of  Sicily,  gallantly, 
"  I  care  not  if  I  never  see  another.  But  there  will  not  be 
this  need ;  for  our  friends,  who  have  more  generous  souls 
than  well-filled  coffers  too,  can  give  such  warranty  to  the 
lenders  as  will  procure  the  means.  I  charge  myself  with 
this  duty,  for  henceforth,  my  cousin  —  may  I  not  say  my 
betrothed  ?"— 

"  The  term  is  even  dearer  than  any  that  belongeth  to 
blood,  Fernando,"  answered  the  princess,  with  a  simple 
sincerity  of  manner  that  set  at  nought  the  ordinary  affecta 
tions  and  artificial  feelings  of  her  sex,  while  it  left  the 
deepest  reverence  for  her  modesty — "  and  we  might  be  ex 
cused  for  using  it.  I  trust  God  will  bless  our  union,  not 
only  to  our  own  happiness,  but  to  that  of  our  people." 

"  Then,  my  betrothed,  henceforth  we  have  but  a  common 
fortune,  and  thou  wilt  trust  in  me  for  the  provision  for  thy 
wants." 


46  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Nay,  Fernanao,"  answered  Isabella,  smiling,  "  imagine 
what  we  will,  we  cannot  imagine  ourselves  the  children  of 
two  hidalgos  about  to  set  forth  in  the  world  with  humble 
dowries.  Thou  art  a  king,  even  now ;  and  by  the  treaty 
of  Toros  de  Guisando,  I  am  solemnly  recognized  as  the 
heiress  of  Castile.  We  must,  therefore,  have  our  separate 
means,  as  well  as  our  separate  duties,  though  I  trust  hardly 
our  separate  interests." 

"  Thou  wilt  never  find  me  failing  in  that  respect  which 
is  due  to  thy  rank,  or  in  that  duty  which  it  befitteth  me  to 
render  thee,  as  the  head  of  our  ancient  House,  next  to  thy 
royal  brother,  the  king." 

"  Thou  hast  well  considered,  Don  Fernando,  the  treaty 
of  marriage,  and  accepted  cheerfully,  I  trust,  all  of  its 
several  conditions  ?" 

"As  becometh  the  importance  of  the  measures,  and  the 
magnitude  of  the  benefit  I  was  to  receive." 

"  I  would  have  them  acceptable  to  thee,  as  well  as  expe 
dient  ;  for,  though  so  soon  to  become  thy  wife,  I  can  never 
cease  to  remember  that  I  shall  be  Queen  of  this  country." 

"  Thou  mayest  be  assured,  my  beautiful  betrothed,  that 
Ferdinand  of  Aragon  will  be  the  last  to  deem  thee  aught 
else." 

"  I  look  on  my  duties  as  coming  from  God,  and  on  my 
self  as  one  rigidly  accountable  to  him  for  their  faithful  dis 
charge.  Sceptres  may  not  be  treated  as  toys,  Fernando, 
to  be  trifled  with  ;  for  man  beareth  no  heavier  burthen, 
than  when  he  beareth  a  crown." 

"  The  maxims  of  our  House  have  not  been  forgotten  in 
Aragon,  my  betrothed  —  and  I  rejoice  to  find  that  they  are 
the  same  in  both  kingdoms." 

"  We  are  not  to  think  principally  of  ourselves  in  enter 
ing  upon  this  engagement,"  continued  Isabella,  earnestly — 
"  for  that  would  be  supplanting  the  duties  of  princes  by  the 
feelings  of  the  lover.  Thou  hast  frequently  perused,  and 
sufficiently  conned  the  marriage  articles,  I  trust?" 

"  There  hath  been  sufficient  leisure  for  that,  my  cousin, 
as  they  have  now  been  signed  these  nine  months." 

"  If  I  may  have  seemed  to  thee  exacting  in  some  parti 
culars,"  continued  Isabella,  with  the  same  earnest  and 
beautiful  simplicity  as  usually  marked  her  deportment  in 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  47 

all  the  relations  of  life — "  it  is  because  the  duties  oi  a  sove 
reign  may  not  be  overlooked.  Thou  knowest,  moreover, 
Fernando,  the  influence  that  the  husband  is  wont  to  acquire 
over  the  wife,  and  wilt  feel  the  necessity  of  my  protecting 
my  Castilians,  in  the  fullest  manner,  against  my  own  weak 
nesses." 

"  If  thy  Castilians  do  not  suffer  until  they  suffer  from 
that  cause,  Dona  Isabella,  their  lot  will  indeed  be  blessed." 

"  These  are  words  of  gallantry,  and  I  must  reprove  their 
use  on  an  occasion  so  serious,  Fernando.  I  am  a  few 
months  thy  senior,  and  shall  assume  an  elder  sister's  rights, 
until  they  are  lost  in  the  obligations  of  a  wife.  Thou  hast 
seen  in  those  articles,  how  anxiously  I  would  protect  my 
Castilians  against  any  supremacy  of  the  stranger.  Thou 
knowest  that  many  of  the  greatest  of  this  realm  are  op 
posed  to  our  union,  through  apprehension  of  Aragonese 
sway,  and  wilt  observe  how  studiously  we  have  striven  to 
appease  their  jealousies." 

"  Thy  motives,  Dona  Isabella,  have  been  understood,  and 
thy  wishes  in  this  and  all  other  particulars  shall  be  re 
spected." 

"  I  would  be  thy  faithful  and  submissive  wife,"  returned 
the  princess,  with  an  earnest  but  gentle  look  at  her  be 
trothed  ;  "  but  I  would  also  that  Castile  should  preserve  her 
rights  and  her  independence.  What  will  be  thy  influence, 
the  maiden  that  freely  bestoweth  her  hand,  need  hardly 
say ;  but  we  must  preserve  the  appearance  of  separate 
states." 

"  Confide  in  me,  my  cousin.  They  who  live  fifty  years 
hence  will  say  that  Don  Fernando  knew  how  to  respect  his 
obligations  and  to  discharge  his  duty." 

"  There  is  the  stipulation,  too,  to  war  upon  the  Moor.  I 
shall  never  feel  that  the  Christians  of  Spain  have  been  true 
to  the  faith,  while  a  follower  of  the  arch-impostor  of  Mecca 
remaineth  in  the  Peninsula." 

"  Thou  and  thy  archbishop  could  not  have  imposed  a 
more  agreeable  duty,  than  to  place  my  lance  in  rest  against 
the  Infidels.  My  spurs  have  been  gained  in  those  wars, 
already ;  and  no  sooner  shall  we  be  crowned,  than  thou 
wilt  see  my  perfect  willingness  to  aid  in  driving  back  the 
miscreants  to  their  original  sands." 


48  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  There  remainelh  but  one  thing  more  upon  my  mind, 
gentle  cousin.  Thou  knowest  the  evil  influence  that  besets 
my  brother,  and  that  it  hath  disaffected  a  large  portion  of 
his  nobles  as  well  as  of  his  cities.  We  shall  both  be  sorely 
tempted  to  wage  war  upon  him,  and  to  assume  the  sceptre 
before  it  pleaseth  God  to  accord  it  to  us,  in  the  course  of 
nature.  I  would  have  thee  respect  Don  Enriquez,  not  only 
as  the  head  of  our  royal  house,  but  as  my  brother  and 
anointed  master.  Should  evil  counsellors  press  him  to  at 
tempt  aught  against  our  persons  or  rights,  it  will  be  lawful 
to  resist ;  but  I  pray  thee,  Fernando,  on  no  excuse  seek  to 
raise  thy  hand  in  rebellion  against  my  rightful  sovereign." 

"  Let  Don  Enriquez,  then,  be  chary  of  his  Beltraneja  !" 
answered  the  prince,  with  warmth.  "  By  St.  Peter  !  I  have 
rights  of  mine  own  that  come  before  those  of  that  ill -be 
gotten  mongrel !  The  whole  House  of  Trastamara  hath 
an  interest  in  stifling  that  spurious  scion  which  hath  been 
so  fraudulently  engrafted  on  its  princely  stock !" 

"  Thou  art  warm,  Don  P^ernando,  and  even  the  eye  of 
Beatriz  de  Bobadilla  reproveth  thy  heat.  The  unfortunate 
Joanna  never  can  impair  our  rights  to  the  throne,  for  there 
are  few  nobles  in  Castile  so  unworthy  as  to  wish  to  see  the 
crown  bestowed  where  it  is  believed  the  blood  of  Pelayo 
doth  not  flow." 

"  Don  Enriquez  hath  not  kept  faith  with  thee,  Isabella, 
since  the  treaty  of  Toros  de  Guisando !" 

"  My  brother  is  surrounded  by  wicked  counsellors — and 
then,  Fernando" — the  princess  blushed  crimson  as  she 
spoke — "  neither  have  we  been  able  rigidly  to  adhere  to 
that  convention,  since  one  of  its  conditions  was  that  my 
hand  should  not  be  bestowed  without  the  consent  of  the 
king." 

"  He  hath  driven  us  into  this  measure,  and  hath  only  to 
reproach  himself  with  our  failure  on  this  point." 

"  I  endeavour  so  to  view  it,  though  many  have  been  my 
prayers  for  forgiveness  of  this  seeming  breach  of  faith.  I 
am  not  superstitious,  Fernando,  else  might  I  think  God 
would  frown  on  a  union  that  is  contracted  in  the  face  of 
pledges  like  these.  But,  it  is  well  to  distinguish  between 
motives,  and  we  have  a  right  to  believe  that  He  who  read- 
eth  the  heart,  will  not  judge  the  well-intentioned  severely 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  4U 

Had  not  Don  Enriquez  attempted  to  seize  my  person,  with 
the  plain  purpose  of  forcing  me  to  a  marriage  against  my 
will,  this  decisive  step  could  not  have  been  necessary,  and 
would  not  have  been  taken." 

"  I  have  reason  to  thank  my  patron  saint,  beautiful  cou 
sin,  that  thy  will  was  less  compliant  than  thy  tyrants  had 
believed." 

"  I  could  not  plight  my  troth  to  the  King  of  Portugal,  or 
to  Monsieur  de  Guienne,  or  to  any  that  they  proposed  to 
me,  for  my  future  lord,"  answered  Isabella,  ingenuously. 
"  It  ill  befitteth  royal  or  noble  maidens  to  set  up  their  own 
inexperienced  caprices  in  opposition  to  the  wisdom  of  their 
friends,  and  the  task  is  not  difficult  for  a  virtuous  wife  to 
learn  to  love  her  husband,  when  nature  and  opinion  are  not 
too  openly  violated  in  the  choice ;  but  I  have  had  too  much 
thought  for  my  soul  to  wish  to  expose  it  to  so  severe  a  trial, 
in  contracting  the  marriage  duties." 

"  I  feel  that  I  am  only  too  unworthy  of  thee,  Isabella — 
but  thou  must  train  me  to  be  that  thou  wouldest  wish :  I 
can  only  promise  thee  a  most  willing  and  attentive  scholar." 
The  discourse  now  became  more  general,  Isabella  in 
dulging  her  natural  curiosity  and  affectionate  nature,  by 
making  many  inquiries  concerning  her  different  relatives  in 
Aragon.  After  the  interview  had  lasted  two  hours  or  more, 
the  King  of  Sicily  returned  to  Duefias,  with  the  same  pri 
vacy  as  he  had  observed  in  entering  the  town.  The  royal 
pair  parted  with  feelings  of  increased  esteem  and  respect, 
Isabella,  indulging  in  those  gentle  anticipations  of  domestic 
happiness  that  more  properly  belong  to  the  tender  nature  of 
woman. 

The  marriage  took  place,  with  suitable  pomp,  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th  October,  1469,  in  the  chapel  of  John 
de  Vivero's  palace ;  no  less  than  two  thousand  persons, 
principally  of  condition,  witnessing  the  ceremony.  Just  as 
the  officiating  priest  was  about  to  commence  the  offices,  the 
eye  of  Isabella  betrayed  uneasiness,  and  turning  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Toledo,  she  said, — 

"  Your  grace  hath  promised  that  there  should  be  nothing 
wanting  to  the  consent  of  the  church  on  this  solemn  occa 
sion.     It  is  known  that  Don  Fernando  of  Aragori  and  I 
stand  within  the  prohibited  degrees." 
5 


5C  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"  Most  true,  my  lady  Isabella,"  returned  the  prelate,  with 
a  composed  mien  and  a  paternal  smile.  "  Happily,  our 
Holy  Father  Pius  hath  removed  this  impediment,  arid  the 
church  smileth  on  this  blessed  union  in  every  particular." 

The  archbishop  then  took  out  of  his  pocket  a  dispensa 
tion,  which  he  read  in  a  clear,  sonorous,  steady  voice; 
when  every  shade  disappeared  from  the  serene  brow  of 
Isabella,  and  the  ceremony  proceeded.  Years  elapsed  be 
fore  this  pious  and  submissive  Christian  princess  discovered 
that  she  had  been  imposed  on,  the  bull  that  was  then  read 
having  been  an  invention  of  the  old  King  of  Aragon  and 
the  prelate,  not  without  suspicions  of  a  connivance  on  the 
part  of  the  bridegroom.  This  deception  had  been  practised 
from  a  perfect  conviction  that  the  sovereign  pontiff  was  too 
much  under  the  influence  of  the  King  of  Castile,  to  consent 
to  bestow  the  boon  in  opposition  to  that  monarch's  wishes. 
It  was  several  years  before  Sixtus  IV.  repaired  this  wrong, 
by  granting  a  more  genuine  authority. 

Nevertheless,  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  became  man  and 
wife.  What  followed  in  the  next  twenty  years  must  be 
rather  glanced  at  than  related.  Henry  IV.  resented  the 
step,  and  vain  attempts  were  made  to  substitute  his  suppo 
sititious  child,  La  Beltraneja,  in  the  place  of  his  sister,  as 
successor  to  the  throne.  A  civil  war  ensued,  during  which 
Isabella  steadily  refused  to  assume  the  crown,  though  often 
entreated :  limiting  her  efforts  to  the  maintenance  of  her 
rights  as  heiress  presumptive.  In  1474,  or  five  years  after 
her  marriage,  Don  Henry  died,  and  she  then  became  Queen 
of  Castile,  though  her  spurious  niece  was  also  proclaimed 
by  a  small  party  among  her  subjects.  The  war  of  the  suc 
cession,  as  it  was  called,  lasted  five  years  longer,  when 
Joanna,  or  La  Beltraneja,  assumed  the  veil,  and  the  rights 
of  Isabella  were  generally  acknowledged.  About  the  same 
time,  died  Don  John  II.,  when  Ferdinand  mounted  the 
throne  of  Aragon.  These  events  virtually  reduced  the  sove 
reignties  of  the  Peninsula,  which  had  so  long  been  cut  up 
into  petty  states,  to  four,  viz.,  the  possessions  of  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella,  which  included  Castile,  Leon,  Aragon,  Va 
lencia,  and  many  other  of  the  finest  provinces  of  Spain  ; 
Navarre,  an  insignificant  kingdom  in  the  Pyrenees ;  Portq 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  51 

gal,  much  as  it  exists  to-day ;  and  Granada,  the  last  abiding 
place  of  the  Moor,  north  of  the  strait  of  Gibraltar. 

Neither  Ferdinand,  nor  his  royal  consort,  was  forgetful 
of  that  clause  in  their  marriage  contract,  which  bound  the 
former  to  undertake  a  war  for  the  destruction  of  the  Moor 
ish  power.  The  course  of  events,  however,  caused  a  delay 
of  many  years,  in  putting  this  long-projected  plan  in  exe 
cution  ;  but  when  the  time  finally  arrived,  that  Providence 
which  seemed  disposed  to  conduct  the  pious  Isabella,  through 
a  train  of  important  incidents,  from  the  reduced  condition 
in  which  we  have  just  described  her  to  have  been,  to  the 
summit  of  human  power,  did  not  desert  its  favourite.  Suc 
cess  succeeded  success  —  and  victory,  victory;  until  the 
Moor  had  lost  fortress  after  fortress,  town  after  town,  and 
was  finally  besieged  in  his  very  capital,  his  last  hold  in  the 
peninsula.  As  the  reduction  of  Granada  was  an  event 
that,  in  Christian  eyes,  was  to  be  ranked  second  only  to 
the  rescuing  of  the  holy  sepulchre  from  the  hands  of 
the  Infidels,  so  was  it  distinguished  by  some  features  of 
singularity,  that  have  probably  never  before  marked  the 
course  of  a  siege.  The  place  submitted  on  the  25th  No 
vember,  1491,  twenty-two  years  after  the  date  of  the  mar 
riage  just  mentioned,  and,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  observe, 
on  the  very  day  of  the  year,  that  has  become  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  this  country,  as  that  on  which  the  English, 
four  centuries  later,  reluctantly  yielded  their  last  foothold 
on  the  coast  of  the  republic. 

In  the  course  of  the  preceding  summer,  while  the  Span 
ish  forces  lay  before  the  town,  and  Isabella,  with  her  chil 
dren,  were  anxious  witnesses  of  the  progress  of  events, 
an  accident  occurred  that  had  well-nigh  proved  fatal 
to  the  royal  family,  and  brought  destruction  on  the  Chris 
tian  arms.  The  pavilion  of  the  queen  took  fire,  and  was 
consumed,  placing  the  whole  encampment  in  the  utmost 
jeopardy.  Many  of  the  tents  of  the  nobles  were  also  de 
stroyed,  and  much  treasure,  in  the  shape  of  jewelry  and 
plate,  was  lost,  though  the  injury  went  no  farther.  In  order 
to  guard  against  the  recurrence  of  such  an  accident,  and 
probably  viewing  the  subjection  of  Granada  as  the  great 
act  of  their  mutual  reign — for,  as  yet,  Time  threw  his  veil 
around  the  future,  and  but  one  human  eye  foresaw  the  great- 


52  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

est  of  all  the  events  of  the  period,  which  was  still  in  reserve — 
the  sovereigns  resolved  on  attempting  a  work  that,  of  itself, 
would  render  this  siege  memorable.  The  plan  of  a  regular 
town  was  made,  and  labourers  set  about  the  construction 
of  good  substantial  edifices,  in  which  to  lodge  the  army  ; 
thus  converting  the  warfare  into  that  of  something  like  city 
against  city.  In  three  months  this  stupendous  work  was 
completed,  with  its  avenues,  streets  and  squares,  and  re 
ceived  the  name  of  Santa  Fe,  or  Holy  Faith,  an  appellation 
quite  as  well  suited  to  the  zeal  which  could  achieve  such  a 
work,  in  the  heat  of  a  campaign,  as  to  that  general  reliance 
on  the  providence  of  God  which  animated  the  Christians  in 
carrying  on  the  war.  The  construction  of  this  place  struck 
terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  Moors,  for  they  considered  it 
a  proof  that  their  enemies  intended  to  give  up  the  conflict 
only  with  their  lives ;  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  it  had 
a  direct  and  immediate  influence  on  the  submission  of  Bo- 
abdil,  the  King  of  Granada,  who  yielded  the  Alhambra,  a 
few  weeks  after  the  Spaniards  had  taken  possession  of  their 
new  abodes. 

Santa  Fe  still  exists,  and  is  visited  by  the  traveller  as  a 
place  of  curious  origin ;  while  it  is  rendered  remarkable  by 
the  fact — real  or  assumed — that  it  is  the  only  town  of  any 
size  in  Spain,  that  has  never  been  under  Moorish  sway. 

The  main  incidents  of  our  tale  will  now  transport  us  to 
tfiis  era,  and  to  this  scene ;  ail  that  has  been  related,  as 
Vet,  being  merely  introductory  matter,  to  prepare  the  reader 
for  the  events  that  are  to  follow. 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  63 


CHAPTER  IV. 

What  thing-  a  right  line  is,  the  learned  know; 

But  how  availes  that  him,  who  in  the  right 
Of  life  and  manners  doth  desire  to  grow  ? 

What  then  are  all  these  humane  arts,  and  lights, 
But  seas  of  errors  ?     In  whose  depths  who  sound, 
Of  truth  finde  only  shadowes,  and  no  ground." 

HUMAN  ^EARNING. 

THE  morning  of  the  2d  of  January,  1492,  was  ushered 
in  with  a  solemnity  and  pomp  that  were  unusual  even  in  a 
court  and  camp  as  much  addicted  to  religious  observances 
and  royal  magnificence,  as  that  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 
The  sun  had  scarce  appeared,  when  all  in  the  extraordinary 
little  city  of  Santa  Fe  were  afoot,  and  elate  with  triumph. 
The  negotiations  for  the  surrender  of  Granada,  which  had 
been  going  on  secretly  for  weeks,  were  terminated;  the  army 
and  nation  had  been  formally  apprised  of  their  results,  and 
this  was  the  day  set  for  the  entry  of  the  conquerors. 

The  court  had  been  in  mourning  for  Don  Alonso  of  For- 
tugal,  the  husband  of  the  Princess  Royal  of  Castile,  who 
had  died  a  bridegroom ;  but  on  this  joyous  occasion  the 
trappings  of  woe  were  cast  aside,  and  all  appeared  in  their 
gayest  and  most  magnificent  apparel.  At  an  hour  that  was 
still  early,  the  Grand  Cardinal  moved  forward,  ascending 
what  is  called  the  Hill  of  Martyrs,  at  the  head  of  a  strong 
body  of  troops,  with  a  view  to  take  possession.  While 
making  the  ascent,  a  party  of  Moorish  cavaliers  was  met ; 
and  at  their  head  rode  one  in  whom,  by  the  dignity  of  his 
mien  and  the  anguish  of  his  countenance,  it  was  easy  to 
recognize  the  mental  suffering  of  Boabdil,  or  Abdallah,  the 
deposed  monarch.  The  cardinal  pointed  out  the  position 
occupied  by  Ferdinand,  who,  with  that  admixture  of  piety 
and  worldly  policy  which  were  so  closely  interwoven  in  his 
character,  had  refused  to  enter  within  the  walls  of  the  con 
quered  city,  until  the  symbol  of  Christ  had  superseded  the 
5* 


64  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

banners  of  Mahomet ;  and  who  had  taken  his  station  at 
some  distance  from  the  gates,  with  a  purpose  and  display 
of  humility  that  were  suited  to  the  particular  fanaticism 
of  the  period.  As  the  interview  that  occurred  has  often 
been  related,  and  twice  quite  recently  by  distinguished 
writers  of  our  own  country,  it  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on 
it  here.  Abdallah  next  sought  the  presence  of  the  purer- 
minded  and  gentle  Isabella,  where  his  reception,  with  less 
affectation  of  the  character,  had  more  of  the  real  charity 
and  compassion  of  the  Christian ;  when  he  went  his  way 
towards  that  pass  in  the  mountains  that  has  ever  since  been 
celebrated  as  the  point  where  he  took  his  last  view  of  the 
palaces  and  towers  of  his  fathers,  from  which  it  has  ob 
tained  the  poetical  and  touching  name  of  El  Ultimo  Suspiro 
Del  Moro. 

Although  the  passage  of  the  last  King  of  Granada,  from 
his  palace  to  the  hills,  was  in  no  manner  delayed,  as  it 
was  grave  and  conducted  with  dignity,  it  consequently  oc 
cupied  some  time.  These  were  hours  in  which  the  multi 
tude  covered  the  highways,  and  the  adjacent  fields  were 
garnished  with  a  living  throng,  all  of  whom  kept  their  eyes 
riveted  on  the  towers  of  the  Alhambra,  where  the  signs  of 
possession  were  anxiously  looked  for  by  every  good  Ca 
tholic  who  witnessed  the  triumph  of  his  religion. 

Isabella,  who  had  made  this  conquest  a  condition  in  the 
articles  of  marriage  —  whose  victory  in  truth  it  was  —  ab 
stained,  with  her  native  modesty,  from  pressing  forward  on 
this  occasion.  She  had  placed  herself  at  some  distance  in 
the  rear  of  the  position  of  Ferdinand.  Still,  unless  indeed 
we  except  the  long-coveted  towers  of  the  Alhambra,  she 
was  the  centre  of  attraction.  She  appeared  in  royal  mag 
nificence,  as  due  to  the  glory  of  the  occasion  ;  her  beauty 
always  rendered  her  an  object  of  admiration  ;  her  mildness, 
inflexible  justice,  and  unyielding  truth,  had  won  all  hearts  ; 
and  she  was  really  the  person  who  was  most  to  profit  by 
the  victory,  Granada  being  attached  to  her  own  crown  of 
Castile,  and  not  to  that  of  Aragon.  a  country  that  possessed 
little  or  no  contiguous  territory. 

Previously  to  the  appearance  of  Abdallah,  the  crowd 
moved  freely,  in  all  directions;  multitudes  of  civilians 
having  flocked  to  the  camp  to  witness  the  entry.  Among 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE  55 

others  were  many  friars,  priests  and  monks,  the  war,  in 
deed,  having  the  character  of  a  crusade.  The  throng  of 
(.he  curious  was  densest  near  the  person  of  the  queen, 
where,  in  truth,  the  magnificence  of  the  court  was  the  most 
imposing.  Around  this  spot,  in  particular,  congregated  most 
of  the  religious,  for  they  felt  that  the  pious  mind  of  Isabella 
created  a  sort  of  moral  atmosphere  in  and  near  her  pre 
sence,  that  was  peculiarly  suited  to  their  habits,  and  favour 
able  to  their  consideration.  Among  others,  was  a  friar  of 
prepossessing  mien,  and,  in  fact,  of  noble  birth,  who  had 
been  respectfully  addressed  as  Father  Pedro,  by  several 
grandees,  as  he  made  his  way  from  the  immediate  presence 
of  the  queen,  to  a  spot  where  the  circulation  was  easier. 
He  was  accompanied  by  a  youth  of  an  air  so  much 
superior  to  that  of  most  'of  those  who  did  not  appear  that 
day  in  the  saddle,  that  he  attracted  general,  attention. 
Although  not  more  than  twenty,  it  was  evident,  from  his 
muscular  frame,  and  embrowned  but  florid  cheeks,  that  he 
was  acquainted  with  exposure ;  and  by  his  bearing,  many 
thought,  notwithstanding  he  did  not  appear  in  armour  on  an 
occasion  so  peculiarly  military,  that  both  his  mien  and  his 
frame  had  been  improved  by  familiarity  with  war.  His 
attire  was  simple,  as  if  he  rather  avoided  than  sought  ob 
servation,  but  it  was,  nevertheless,  such  as  was  worn  by 
none  but  the  noble.  Several  of  those  who  watched  this  youth, 
as  he  reached  the  less  confined  portions  of  the  crowd,  had 
seen  him  received  graciously  by  Isabella,  whose  hand  he 
had  even  been  permitted  to  kiss,  a  favour  that  the  formal 
and  fastidious  court  of  Castile  seldom  bestowed  except  on 
the  worthy,  or,  on  those,  at  least,  who  were  unusually 
illustrious  from  their  birth.  Some  whispered  that  he  was  a 
Guzman,  a  family  that  was  almost  royal ;  while  others 
thought  that  he  might  be  a  Ponce,  a  name  that  had  got  to  be 
one  of  the  first  in  Spain,  through  the  deeds  of  the  renowned 
Marquis-Duke  of  Cadiz,  in  this  very  war ;  while  others, 
again,  affected  to  discern  in  his  lofty  brow,  firm  step,  and 
animated  eye,  the  port  and  countenance  of  a  Mendoza. 

It  was  evident  that  the  subject  of  all  these  commentaries 
was  unconscious  of  the  notice  that  was  attracted  by  his 
vigorous  form,  handsome  face,  and  elastic,  lofty  tread ;  for, 
like  one  accustomed  to  be  observed  by  inferiors,  his  atten- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 


tion  was  confined  to  such  objects  as  amused  his  eye,  or 
pleased  his  fancy,  while  he  lent  a  willing  ear  to  the  remarks 
that,  from  time  to  time,  fell  from  the  lips  of  his  reverend 
companion. 

"  This  is  a  most  blessed  and  glorious  day  for  Christian- 
ity  !"  observed  the  friar,  after  a  pause  a  little  longer  than 
common.  "An  impious  reign  of  seven  hundred  years  hath 
expired,  and  the  Moor  is  at  length  lowered  from  his  pride  ; 
while  the  cross  is  elevated  above  the  banners  of  the  false 
prophet.  Thou  hast  had  ancestors,  my  son,  who  might 
almost  arise  from  their  tombs,  and  walk  the  earth  in  ex 
ultation,  if  the  tidings  of  these  changes  were  permitted  to 
reach  the  souls  of  Christians  long  since  departed." 

"  The  Blessed  Maria  intercede  for  them,  father,  that  they 
may  not  be  disturbed,  even  to  see  the  Moor  unhoused  ;  for 
I  doubt  much,  agreeable  as  the  Infidel  hath  made  it,  if  they 
find  Granada  as  pleasant  as  Paradise." 

"  Son  Don  Luis,  thou  hast  got  much  levity  of  speech,  in 
thy  late  journeyings  ;  and  I  doubt  if  thou  art  as  mindful  of 
thy  paters  and  confessions,  as  when  under  the  care  of  thy 
excellent  mother,  of  sainted  memory  !" 

This  was  not  only  said  reprovingly,  but  with  a  warmth 
that  amounted  nearly  to  anger. 

"Chide  me  not  so  warmly,  father,  for  a  lightness  of 
speech  that  cometh  of  youthful  levity,  rather  than  of  dis 
respect  for  holy  church.  —  Nay,  thou  rebukest  warmly,  and 
then,  as  I  come  like  a  penitent  to  lay  my  transgressions  be 
fore  thee,  and  to  seek  absolution,  thou  fastenest  thine  eye  on 
vacancy,  and  gazest  as  if  one  of  the  spirits  of  which  thou 
so  lately  spokest  actually  had  arisen  and  come  to  see  the 
Moor  crack  his  heart-strings  at  quitting  his  beloved  Al- 
hambra  !" 

"Dost  see  that  man,  Luis?"  demanded  the  friar,  still 
gazing  in  a  fixed  direction,  though  he  made  no  gesture  to 
indicate  to  which  particular  individual  of  the  many  who 
were  passing  in  all  directions,  he  especially  alluded. 

"  By  my  veracity,  I  see  a  thousand,  father,  though  not 
one  to  fasten  the  eye  as  if  he  were  fresh  from  Paradise. 
Would  it  be  exceeding  discretion  to  ask  who,  or  what,  hath 
thus  riveted  thy  gaze  ?" 

"  Dost  see  yonder  person  of  high  and  commanding  sta 


MERCEDES    Of    CASTILE.  67 

rure,  and  in  whom  gravity  and  dignity  are  so  singularly 
mingled  with  an  air  of  poverty ;  or,  if  not  absolutely  of 
poverty — for  he  is  better  clad,  and  seemingly  in  more  pros 
perity  now,  than  I  remember  ever  to  have  seen  him — still, 
evidently  not  of  the  rich  and  noble ;  while  his  bearing  and 
carriage  would  seem  to  bespeak  him  at  least  a  monarch  ?" 

"  I  think  I  now  perceive  him  thou  meanest,  father ;  a 
man  of  very  grave  and  reverend  appearance,  though  of 
simple  deportment.  I  see  nothing  extravagant,  or  ill  placed, 
either  in  his  attire,  or  in  his  bearing." 

"  I  mean  not  that ;  —  but  there  is  a  loftiness  in  his  dig 
nified  countenance  that  one  is  not  accustomed  to  meet  in 
those  who  are  unused  to  power." 

"  To  me  he  hath  the  air  and  dress  of  a  superior  navi 
gator,  or  pilot  —  of  a  man  accustomed  to  the  seas  —  ay,  he 
hath  sundry  symbols  about  him  that  bespeak  such  a  pur 
suit." 

"  Thou  art  right,  Don  Luis,  for  such  is  his  calling.  He 
cometh  of  Genoa,  and  his  name  is  Christoval  Colon  —  or, 
as  they  term  it  in  Italy — Christoforo  Colombo." 

"  I  remember  to  have  heard  of  an  admiral  of  that  name, 
who  did  good  service  in  the  wars  of  the  south,  and  who 
formerly  led  a  fleet  into  the  far  east." 

"  This  is  not  he,  but  one  of  humbler  habits,  though  pos 
sibly  of  the  same  blood,  seeing  that  both  are  derived  from 
the  identical  place.  This  is  no  admiral,  though  he  would 
fain  become  one — ay,  even  a  king  !" 

"  The  man  is  then  either  of  a  weak  mind,  or  of  a  light 
ambition." 

"  He  is  neither.  In  mind,  he  hath  outdone  many  of  our 
most  learned  churchmen ;  and  it  is  due  to  his  piety  to  say 
that  a  more  devout  Christian  doth  not  exist  in  Spain.  It  is 
plain,  son,  that  thou  hast  been  much  abroad,  and  little  at 
court,  or  thou  would'st  have  known  the  history  of  this  ex 
traordinary  being,  at  the  mention  of  his  name,  which  has 
been  the  source  of  merriment  for  the  frivolous  and  gay, 
this  many  a  year,  and  which  has  thrown  the  thoughtful  and 
prudent  into  more  doubts  than  many  a  fierce  and  baneful 
heresy." 

"  Thou  stirrest  my  curiosity,  father,  by  such  language. 
Who  and  what  is  the  man  ?" 


58  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"An  enigma  that  neither  prayers  to  the  Virgin,  the  learn 
ing  of  the  cloisters,  nor  a  zealous  wish  to  reach  the  truth, 
hath  enabled  me  to  read.  Come  hither,  Luis,  to  this  bit  of 
rock  where  we  can  be  seated,  and  I  will  relate  to  thee  the 
opinions  that  render  this  being  so  extraordinary.  Thou 
must  know,  son,  it  is  now  seven  years  since  this  man  first 
appeared  among  us.  He  sought  employment  as  a  disco 
verer,  pretending  that  by  steering  out  into  the  ocean,  on  a 
western  course,  for  a  great  and  unheard-of  distance,  he  could 
reach  the  farther  Indies,  with  the  rich  island  of  Cipango, 
and  the  kingdom  of  Cathay,  of  which  one  Marco  Polo  hath 
left  us  some  most  extraordinary  legends." 

"  By  St.  James  of  blessed  memory !  the  man  must  be 
short  of  his  wits !"  interrupted  Don  Luis,  laughing.  "  In 
what  way  could  this  thing  be,  unless  the  earth  were  round 
— the  Indies  lying  east,  and  not  west  of  us  ?" 

"  That  hath  been  often  objected  to  his  notions ;  but  the 
man  hath  ready  answers  to  much  weightier  arguments." 

"  What  weightier  than  this  can  be  found  ?  Our  own  eyes 
tell  us  that  the  earth  is  flat." 

"Therein  he  difFereth  from  most  men  —  and  to  own  the 
truth,  son  Luis,  not  without  some  show  of  reason.  He  is 
a  navigator,  as  thou  wilt  understand,  and  he  replies  that, 
on  the  ocean,  when  a  ship  is  seen  from  afar,  her  upper  sails 
are  first  perceived,  and  that  as  she  draweth  nearer,  her 
lower  sails,  and  finally  her  hull  cometh  into  view.  But, 
thou  hast  been  over  sea,  and  may  have  observed  something 
of  this?" 

"  Truly  have  I,  father.  While  mounting  the  English  sea, 
we  met  a  gallant  cruiser  of  the  king's,  and,  as  thou  said'st, 
we  first  perceived  her  upper  sail,  a  white  speck  upon  the 
water  —  then  followed  sail  after  sail,  until  we  came  nigh 
and  saw  her  gigantic  hull,  with  a  very  goodly  show  of 
bombards  and  cannon — some  twenty  at  least,  in  all." 

"  Then  thou  agreest  with  this  Colon,  and  thinkest  the 
earth  round  ?' 

"  By  St.  George  of  England !  not  I.  I  have  seen  too 
much  of  the  world,  to  traduce  its  fair  surface  in  so  heedless 
a  manner.  England,  France,  Burgundy,  Germany,  and 
all  those  distant  countries  of  the  north,  are  just  as  level 
and  flat  as  our  own  Castile." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 


59 


«*  Why  then  didst  thou  see  the  upper  sails  of  the  English 
man  first  ?" 

"Why,  father  —  why  —  because  they  were  first  visible. 
Yes,  because  they  came  first  into  view." 

"  Do  the  English  put  the  largest  of  their  sails  uppermost 
on  the  masts'?" 

"  They  would  be  fools  if  they  did.  Though  no  great 
navigators — our  neighbours  the  Portuguese,  and  the  people 
of  Genoa,  exceeding  all  others  in  that  craft  —  though  no 
great  navigators,  the  English  are  not  so  surpassingly 
stupid.  Thou  wilt  remember  the  force  of  the  winds,  and 
understand  that  the  larger  the  sail  the  lower  should  be  its 
position." 

"Then  how  happened  it  that  thou  sawest  the  smaller 
object  before  the  larger  ?" 

"  Truly,  excellent  Fray  Pedro,  thou  hast  not  conversed 
with  this  Christoforo  for  nothing  1  A  question  is  not  a  rea 
son." 

"  Socrates  was  fond  of  questions,  son ;  but  he  expected 
answers." 

"Peste  !  as  they  say  at.  the  court  of  King  Louis.  I  am 
not  Socrates,  my  good  father",  but  thy  old  pupil  and  kins- 
man,  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  the  truant  nephew  of  the  queen's 
favourite,  the  Marchioness  of  Moya,  and  as  well-born  a 
cavalier  as  there  is  in  Spain  —  though  somewhat  given  to 
roving,  if  my  enemies  are  to  be  believed." 

"  Neither  thy  pedigree,  thy  character,  nor  thy  vagaries, 
need  be  given  to  me,  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla ;  since  I  have 
known  thee  and  thy  career  from  childhood.  Thou  hast  one 
merit  that  none  will  deny  thee,  and  that  is,  a  respect  for 
truth ;  and  nover  hast  thou  more  completely  vindicated  thy 
character,  in  this  particular,  than  when  thou  saidst  thou 
wert  not  Socrates." 

The  worthy  friar's  good-natured  smile,  as  he  made  this 
sally,  took  off  some  of  its  edge ;  and  the  young  man 
laughed,  as  if  too  conscious  of  his  own  youthful  follies  to 
resent  what  he  heard. 

"  But,  dear  Fray  Pedro,  lay  aside  thy  government,  for 
once,  and  stoop  to  a  rational  discourse  with  me  on  this  ex 
traordinary  subject.  Thou,  surely,  wilt  not  pretend  that 
the  earth  is  round  ?" 


60  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

*'  I  do  not  go  as  far  as  some,  on  this  point,  Luis,  for  I  sre 
difficulties  with  Holy  Writ,  by  the  admission.  Still,  this 
matter  of  the  sails  much  puzzleth  me,  and  I  have  often  felt 
a  desire  to  go  from  one  port  to  another,  by  sea,  in  order  to 
witness  it.  Were  it  not  for  the  exceeding  nausea  that  1 
ever  feel  in  a  boat,  I  might  attempt  the  experiment." 

"  That  would  be  a  worthy  consummation  of  all  thy  wis 
dom  !"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  laughing.  "  Fray  Pedro 
de  Carrascal  turned  rover,  like  his  old  pupil,  and  that,  too, 
astride  a  vagary  !  But  set  thy  heart  at  rest,  my  honoured 
kinsman  and  excellent  instructor,  for  I  can  save  thee  the 
trouble.  In  all  my  journeyings,  by  sea  and  by  land  —  and 
thou  knowest  that,  for  my  years,  they  have  been  many — 
I  have  ever  found  the  earth  flat,  and  the  ocean  the  flattest 
portion  of  it,  always  excepting  a  few  turbulent  and  uneasy 
waves." 

"  No  doubt  it  so  seemeth  to  the  eye ;  but,  this  Colon,  who 
hath  voyaged  far  more  than  thou,  thinketh  otherwise.  He 
contendeth  that  the  earth  is  a  sphere,  and  that,  by  sailing 
west,  he  can  reach  points  that  have  been  already  attained 
by  journeying  east." 

"  By  San  Lorenzo !  but  the  idea  is  a  bold  one !  Doth 
the  man  really  propose  to  venture  out  into  the  broad 
Atlantic,  and  even  to  cross  it  to  some  distant  and  unknown 
land?" 

"  That  is  his  very  idea ;  and  for  seven  weary  years  hath 
he  solicited  the  court  to  furnish  him  with  the  means.  Nay, 
as  I  hear,  he  hath  passed  much  more  time  —  other  seven 
years,  perhaps — in  urging  his  suit  in  different  lands." 

"  If  the  earth  be  round,"  continued  Don  Luis,  with  a 
musing  air,  "  what  preventeth  all  the  water  from  flowing  to 
the  lower  parts  of  it  1  How  is  it,  that  we  have  any  seas 
at  all  1  and  if,  as  thou  hast  hinted,  he  deemeth  the  Indies 
on  the  other  side,  how  is  it  that  their  people  stand  erect  T 
— it  cannot  be  done  without  placing  the  feet  uppermost." 

"That  difficulty  hath  been  presented  to  Colon,  but  he 
treateth  it  lightly.  Indeed,  most  of  our  churchmen  are  getting 
to  believe  that  there  is  no  up,  or  down,  except  as  it  relareth 
to  the  surface  of  the  earth ;  so  that  no  great  obstacle  ex- 
isteth  in  that  point." 

"  Thou  would'st  not  have  me  understand,  father,  that  a 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  61 

man  can  walk  on  his  head  —  and  that,  too,  with  the  noble 
member  in  the  air  ?  By  San  Francisco  !  thy  men  of  Camay 
must  have  talons  like  a  cat,  or  they  would  be  falling,  quickly !" 

"Whither,  Luis?" 

"  Whither,  Fray  Pedro  ?  —  to  Tophet,  or  the  bottomless 
pit.  It  can  never  be  that  men  walk  on  their  heads,  heels 
uppermost,  with  no  better  foundation  than  the  atmosphere. 
The  caravels,  too,  must  sail  on  their  masts — and  that  would 
be  rare  navigation!  What  would  prevent  the  sea  from 
tumbling  out,of  its  bed,  and  falling  on  the  Devil's  fires  and 
extinguishing  them  ?" 

"  Son  Luis,"  interrupted  the  monk,  gravely,  **  thy  light 
ness  of  speech  is  carried  too  far.  But,  if  thou  so  much 
deridest  the  opinion  of  this  Colon,  what  are  thine  own  nouons 
of  the  formation  of  this  earth,  that  God  hath  so  honoured 
with  his  spirit  and  his  presence?" 

"  That  it  is  as  flat  as  the  buckler  of  the  Moor  I  slew  in 
the  last  sortie,  which  is  as  flat  as  steel  can  hammer  iron." 

"  Dost  thou  think  it  hath  limits  ?" 

"  That  do  I  —  and  please  Heaven,  and  Dona  Mercedes 
de  Valverde,  I  will  see  them  before  I  die !" 

"  Then  thou  fanciest  there  is  an  edge,  or  precipice,  at  the 
four  sides  of  the  world,  which  men  may  reach,  and  where 
they  can  stand  and  look  off,  as  from  an  exceeding  high 
platform  ?" 

"  The  picture  doth  not  lose,  father,  for  the  touch  of  thy 
pencil !  I  have  never  bethought  me  of  this  before ;  and 
yet  some  such  spot  there  must  be,  one  would  think.  By 
San  Fernando,  himself!  that  would  be  a  place  to  try  the 
metal  of  even  Don  Alonso  de  Ojeda,  who  might  stand  on 
the  margin  of  the  earth,  put  his  foot  on  a  cloud,  and  cast 
an  orange  to  the  moon  !" 

"  Thou  hast  bethought  thee  little,  of  any  thing  serious,  I 
fear,  Luis  ;  but  to  me,  this  opinion  and  this  project  of  Colon 
are  not  without  merit.  I  see  but  two  serious  objections  to 
them,  one  of  which  is,  the  difficulty  connected  with  Holy 
Writ  —  and  the  other,  the  vast  and  incomprehensible,  nay, 
useless,  extent  of  the  ocean  that  must  necessarily  separate 
us  from  Cathay;  else  should  we  long  since  have  heard 
from  that  quarter  of  the  world." 

"  Do  the  learned  favour  the  man's  notions  ?" 
6 


62  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

"  The  matter  hath  been  seriously  argued  before  a  council 
held  at  Salamanca,  where  men  were  much  divided  upon  it. 
One  serious  obstacle  is  the  apprehension  that  should  the 
world  prove  to  be  round,  and  could  a  ship  even  succeed  in 
getting  to  Cathay  by  the  west,  there  would  be  great  diffi 
culty  in  her  ever  returning,  since  there  must  be,  in  some 
manner,  an  ascent  and  a  descent.  I  must  say  that  most 
men  deride  this  Colon ;  and  I  fear  he  will  never  reach  his 
island  of  Cipango,  as  he  doth  not  seem  in  the  way  even  to 
set  forth  on  the  journey.  I  marvel  that  he  should  now  be 
here,  it  having  been  said  he  had  taken  his  final  departure  for 
Portugal." 

"  Dost  thou  say,  father,  that  the  man  hath  long  been  in 
Spain  ?"  demanded  Don  Luis>  gravely,  with  his  eye  riveted 
on  the  dignified  form  of  Columbus,  who  stood  calmly  re 
garding  the  gorgeous  spectacle  of  the  triumph,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  rock  where  the  two  had  taken  their  seats. 

"  Seven  weary  years  hath  he  been  soliciting  the  rich  and 
the  great  to  furnish  him  with  the  means  of  undertaking  his 
favourite  voyage." 

"  Hath  he  the  gold  to  prefer  so  long  a  suit  ?" 

"  By  his  appearance,  I  should  think  him  poor  —  nay,  1 
know  that  he  hath  toiled  for  bread,  at  the  occupation  of  a 
map-maker.  One  hour  he  hath  passed  in  arguing  with  phi 
losophers  and  in  soliciting  princes,  while  the  next  hath  beeit 
occupied  in  labouring  for  the  food  that  he  hath  taken  for 
sustenance." 

"Thy  description,  father,  hath  whetted  curiosity  to  so 
keen  an  edge,  that  I  would  fain  speak  with  this  Colon.  I 
see  he  remaineth  yonder,  in  the  crowd,  and  will  go  and  tell 
him  that  I,  too,  am  somewhat  of  a  navigator,  and  will  ex 
tract  from  him  a  few  of  his  peculiar  ideas." 

"And  in  what  manner  wilt  thou  open  the  acquaintance, 
son  ?" 

"  By  telling  him  that  I  am  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  the 
nephew  of  the  Dona  Beatriz  of  Moya,  and  a  noble  of  one 
of  the  best  houses  of  Castile." 

"And  this  thou  thinkest  will  suffice  for  thy  purpose, 
Luis  !"  returned  the  friar,  smiling.  "  No  —  no  —  my  son ; 
this  may  do  with  most  map-sellers,  but  it  will  not  effect  thy 
wishes  with  yonder  Christoval  Colon.  That  man  is  so 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 


63 


filled  with  the  vastness  of  his  purposes  ;  is  so  much  raised 
up  with  the  magnitude  of  the  results  that  his  mind  intently 
contemplateth,  day  and  night ;  seemeth  so  conscious  of  his 
own  powers,  that  even  kings  and  princes  can,  in  no  man 
ner,  lessen  his  dignity.  That  which  thou  proposest,  Don 
Fernando,  our  honoured  master,  might  scarcely  attempt, 
and  hope  to  escape  without  some  rebuke  of  manner,  if  not 
of  tongue." 

"  By  all  the  blessed  saints !  Fray  Pedro,  thou  givest  an 
extraordinary  account  of  this  man,  and  only  increasest  the 
desire  to  know  him.  Wilt  thou  charge  thyself  with  the 
introduction  1" 

"  Most  willingly,  for  I  wish  to  inquire  what  hath  brought 
him  back  to  court,  whence,  I  had  understood,  he  lately 
went,  with  the  intent  to  go  elsewhere  with  his  projects. 
Leave  the  mode  in  my  hands,  son  Luis,  and  we  will  see 
what  can  be  accomplished." 

The  friar  and  his  mercurial  young  companion  now  arose 
from  their  seats  on  the  rock,  and  threaded  the  throng, 
taking  the  direction  necessary  to  approach  the  man  who 
had  been  the  subject  of  their  discourse,  and  still  remained 
that  of  their  thoughts.  When  near  enough  to  speak,  Fray 
Pedro  stopped,  and  stood  patiently  waiting  for  a  moment 
when  he  might  catch  the  navigator's  eye.  This  did  not 
occur  for  several  minutes,  the  looks  of  Colon  being  riveted 
on  the  towers  of  the  Alhambra,  where,  at  each  instant,  the 
signal  of  possession  was  expected  to  appear ;  and  Luis  de 
Bobadilla,  who,  truant,  and  errant,  and  volatile,  and  difficult 
to  curb,  as  he  had  proved  himself  to  be,  never  forgot  his 
illustrious  birth  and  the  conventional  distinctions  attached 
to  personal  rank,  began  to  manifest  his  impatience  at  being 
kept  so  long  dancing  attendance  on  a  mere  map-seller  and 
a  pilot.  He  in  vain  urged  his  companion  to  advance,  how 
ever  ;  but  one  of  his  own  hurried  movements  at  length 
drew  aside  the  look  of  Columbus,  when  the  eyes  of  the 
latter  and  of  the  friar  met,  and  being  old  acquaintances, 
they  saluted  in  the  courteous  manner  of  the  age. 

"  I  felicitate  you,  Serlor  Colon,  on  the  glorious  termina 
tion  of  this  siege,  and  rejoice  that  you  are  here  to  witness 
it,  as  I  had  heard  affairs  of  magnitude  had  called  you  to 
another  country." 


64  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  The  hand  of  God,  father,  is  to  be  traced  in  all  things. 
You  perceive  in  this  success  the  victory  of  the  cross ;  but 
to  me  it  conveyeth  a  lesson  of  perseverance,  and  sayeth, 
as  plainly  as  events  can  speak,  that  what  God  hath  de 
creed,  must  come  to  pass." 

"  I  like  your  application,  Senor ;  as,  indeed,  I  do  most 
of  your  thoughts  on  our  holy  religion.  Perseverance  is 
truly  necessary  to  salvation ;  and  I  doubt  not  that  a  fitting 
symbol  to  the  same  may  be  found  in  the  manner  in  which 
our  pious  sovereigns  have  conducted  this  war,  as  well  as  in 
its  glorious  termination." 

"  True,  father ;  and  also  doth  it  furnish  a  symbol  to  the 
fortunes  of  all  enterprises  that  have  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  welfare  of  the  church  in  view,"  answered  Colon,  or 
Columbus,  as  the  name  has  been  Latinized ;  his  eye  kin- 
dling  with  that  latent  fire  which  seems  so  deeply  seated  in  the 
visionary  and  the  enthusiast.  "  It  may  seem  out  of  reason 
to  you,  to  make  such  applications  of  these  great  events ; 
but  the  triumph  of  their  Highnesses  this  day,  marvellously 
encourageth  me  to  persevere,  and  not  to  faint,  in  my  own 
weary  pilgrimage,  both  leading  to  triumphs  of  the  cross." 

"  Since  you  are  pleased  to  speak  of  your  own  schemes, 
Senor  Colon,"  returned  the  friar,  ingeniously,  "  I  am  not 
sorry  that  the  matter  hath  come  up  between  us ;  for  here  is 
a  youthful  kinsman  of  mine,  who  hath  been  somewhat  of  a 
rover,  himself,  in  the  indulgence  of  a  youthful  fancy,  that 
neither  friends  nor  yet  love  could  restrain ;  and  having 
heard  of  your  noble  projects,  he  is  burning  with  the  desire 
to  learn  more  of  them  from  your  own  mouth,  should  it  suit 
your  condescension  so  to  indulge  him." 

"  I  am  always  happy  to  yield  to  the  praiseworthy  wishes 
of  the  young  and  adventurous,  and  shall  cheerfully  com 
municate  to  your  young  friend  all  he  may  desire  to  know," 
answered  Columbus,  with  a  simplicity  and  dignity  that  at 
once  put  to  flight  all  the  notions  of  superiority  and  affability 
with  which  Don  Luis  had  intended  to  carry  on  the  con 
versation,  and  which  had  the  immediate  effect  to  satisfy  the 
young  man  that  he  was  to  be  the  obliged  and  honoured 
party,  in  the  intercourse  that  was  to  follow.  "  But,  Senor, 
you  have  forgotten  to  give  me  the  name  of  the  cavalier." 

"  It  is  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  a  youth  whose  best  claims^ 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  65 

to  your  notice,  perhaps,  are,  a  most  adventurous  and  roving 
spirit,  and  the  fact  that  he  may  call  your  honoured  friend 
the  Marchioness  of  Moya,  his  aunt." 

"  Either  would  be  sufficient,  father.  I  love  the  spirit  of 
adventure  in  the  youthful ;  for  it  is  implanted,  no  doubt,  by 
God,  in  order  that  they  may  serve  his  all-wise  and  benefi 
cent  designs ;  and  it  is  of  such  as  these  that  my  own  chief 
worldly  stay  and  support  must  be  found.  Then,  next  to 
Father  Juan  Perez  de  Marchena  and  Senor  Alonzo  de 
Quintanilla,  do  I  esteem  Dona  Beatriz,  among  my  fastest 
friends  ;  her  kinsman,  therefore,  will  be  certain  of  my  esteem 
and  respect." 

All  this  sounded  extraordinary  to  Don  Luis ;  for  though 
the  dress  and  appearance  of  this  unknown  stranger,  who 
even  spoke  the  Castilian  with  a  foreign  accent,  were  re 
spectable,  he  had  been  told  he  was  merely  a  pilot,  or 
navigator,  who  earned  his  bread  by  toil ;  and  it  was  not 
usual  for  the  noblest  of  Castile  to  be  thus  regarded,  as  it 
might  be,  with  a  condescending  favour,  by  any  inferior  to 
those  who  could  claim  the  blood  and  lineage  of  princes. 
At  first  he  was  disposed  to  resent  the  words  of  the  stranger; 
then  to  laugh  in  his  face ;  but  observing  that  the  friar 
treated  him  with  great  deference,  and  secretly  awed  by  the 
air  of  the  reputed  projector,  he  was  not  only  successful  in 
maintaining  a  suitable  deportment,  but  he  made  a  proper 
and  courteous  reply,  such  as  became  his  name  and  breed 
ing.  The  three  then  retired  together,  a  little  aloof  from  the 
thickest  of  the  throng,  and  found  seats  also,  on  one  of  the 
rocks,  of  which  so  many  were  scattered  about  the  place. 

"  Don  Luis  hath  visited  foreign  lands,  you  say,  father," 
said  Columbus,  who  did  not  fail  to  lead  the  discourse,  like 
one  entitled  to  it  by  rank,  or  personal  claims,  "  and  hath  a 
craving  for  the  wonders  and  dangers  of  the  ocean  ?" 

"  Such  hath  been  either  his  merit,  or  his  fault,  Senor ; 
had  he  listened  to  the  wishes  of  Dona  Beatriz,  or  to  my 
advice,  he  would  not  have  thrown  aside  his  knightly  career 
for  one  so  little  in  unison  with  his  training  and  birth." 

"  Nay,  father,  you  treat  the  youth  with  unmerited  se 
verity  ;  he  who  passeth  a  life  on  the  ocean,  cannot  be 
said  to  pass  it  in  either  an  ignoble  or  a  useless  manner. 
God  separated  different  countries  by  vast  bodies  of  water, 
6* 


66  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

not  with  any  intent  to  render  their  people  strangers  to  each 
other,  but  doubtless  that  they  might  meet  amid  the  wonders 
with  which  he  hath  adorned  the  ocean,  and  glorify  his 
name  and  power  so  much  the  more.  We  all  have  our  mo 
ments  of  thoughtlessness  in  youth,  a  period  when  we  yield 
to  our  impulses  rather  than  to  our  reason  ;  and  as  I  confess 
to  mine,  I  am  little  disposed  to  bear  too  hard  on  Senor  Don 
Luis,  that  he  hath  had  his." 

"You  have  probably  battled  with  the  Infidel,  by  sea, 
Senor  Colon,"  observed  the  young  man,  not  a  little  embar 
rassed  as  to  the  manner  in  which  he  should  introduce  the 
subject  he  most  desired. 

"Ay,  and  by  land,  too,  son" — the  familiarity  startled  the 
young  noble,  though  he  could  not  take  offence  at  it — "  and 
by  land,  too.  The  time  hath  been,  when  I  had  a  pleasure 
in  relating  my  perils  and  escapes,  which  have  been  nume 
rous,  both  from  war  and  tempests  ;  but  since  the  power  of 
God  hath  awakened  my  spirit  to  mightier  things,  that  his 
will  may  be  done,  and  his  word  spread  throughout  the 
whole  earth,  rny  memory  ceaseth  to  dwell  on  them."  Fray 
Pedro  crossed  himself,  and  Don  Luis  smiled  and  shrugged 
his  shoulders,  as  one  is  apt  to  do  when  he  listens  to  any 
thing  extravagant ;  but  the  navigator  proceeded  in  the 
earnest  grave  manner  that  appeared  to  belong  to  his  char 
acter.  "  It  is  now  very  many  years,  since  I  was  engaged 
in  that  remarkable  combat  between  the  forces  of  my  kins 
man  and  namesake,  the  younger  Colombo,  as  he  was  called, 
to  distinguish  him  from  his  uncle,  the  ancient  admiral  of 
the  same  name,  which  took  place  not  far  north  from  Cape 
St.  Vincent.  On  that  bloody  day,  we  contended  with  the 
foe,  Venetians  richly  laden,  from  morn  till  even,  and  yet 
the  Lord  carried  me  through  the  hot  contest  unharmed. 
On  another  occasion,  the  galley  in  which  I  fought  was  con 
sumed  by  fire,  and  I  had  to  find  my  way  to  land,  no  trifling 
distance,  by  the  aid  of  an  oar.  To  me  it  seemeth  that  the 
hand  of  God  was  in  this,  and  that  he  would  not  have  taken 
so  signal  and  tender  a  care  of  one  of  his  insignificant  crea 
tures,  unless  to  use  him  largely  for  his  own  honour  and 
glory." 

Although  the  eye  of  the  navigator  grew  brighter  as  he 
uttered  this,  and  his  cheek  flushed  with  a  species  of  holy 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  07 

enthusiasm,  it  was  impossible  to  confound  one  so  grave,  so 
dignified,  so  measured  even  in  his  exaggerations  —  if  such 
they  were  —  with  the  idle  and  light-minded  who  mistake 
momentary  impulses  for  indelible  impressions,  and  passing 
vanities  for  the  convictions  that  temper  character.  Fray 
Pedro,  instead  of  smiling,  or  in  any  manner  betraying  that 
he  regarded  the  other's  opinions  lightly,  devoutly  crossed 
himself  again,  and  showed  by  the  sympathy  expressed  in 
his  countenance,  how  much  he  entered  into  the  profound 
religious  faith  of  the  speaker. 

"  The  ways  of  God  are  often  mysteries  to  his  creatures," 
said  the  friar  ;  "  but  we  are  taught  that  they  all  lead  to  the 
exaltation  of  his  name,  and  to  the  glory  of  his  attributes." 

"  It  is  so  that  I  consider  it,  father  ;  and  with  such  views 
have  I  always  regarded  my  own  humble  efforts  to  honour 
him.  We  are  but  instruments,  and  useless  instruments, 
too,  when  we  look  at  how  little  proceedeth  from  our  own 
spirits  and  power." 

"  There  cometh  the  blessed  symbol  that  is  our  salvation 
and  guide!"  exclaimed  the  friar,  holding  out  both  arms 
eagerly,  as  if  to  embrace  some  distant  object  in  the  hea 
vens,  immediately  falling  to  his  knees,  and  bowing  his 
shaven  and  naked  head,  in  deep  humility,  to  the  earth. 

Columbus  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  indicated  by 
his  companion's  gestures,  and  he  beheld  the  large  silver 
cross  that  the  sovereigns  had  carried  with  them  throughout 
the  late  war,  as  a  pledge  of  its  objects,  glittering  on  the 
principal  tower  of  the  Alhambra.  At  the  next  instant,  the 
banners  of  Castile  and  of  St.  James  were  unfolded  from 
other  elevated  places.  Then  came  the  song  of  triumph, 
mingled  with  the  chants  of  the  church.  Te  Deum  was 
sung,  and  the  choirs  of  the  royal  chapel  chanted  in  the 
open  fields  the  praises  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  A  scene  of 
magnificent  religious  pomp,  mingled  with  martial  array, 
followed,  that  belongs  rather  to  general  history  than  to  the 
particular  and  private  incidents  of  our  tale. 


68  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE 


CHAPTER  V. 

"Who  hath  not  proved  how  feebly  words 
To  fix  one  spark  of  beauty's  heavenly  ray  ? 
Who  doth  not  feel,  until  his  failing1  sight 
Faints  into  dimness  with  its  own  delight, 
His  changing  cheek,  his  sinking  heart  confess 
The  might  —  the  majesty  of  loveliness!" 

BYRON. 

THAT  night  fbe  court  of  Castile  and  Aragon  slept  in 
the  palace  of  the  Alhambra.  As  soon  as  the  religious  cere 
mony  alluded  to  in  the  last  chapter  had  terminated,  the 
crowd  rushed  into  the  place,  and  the  princes  followed,  with  a 
dignity  and  state  better  suited  to  their  high  character.  The 
young  Christian  nobles,  accompanied  by  their  wives  and 
sisters  —  for  the  presence  of  Isabella,  and  the  delay  that 
attended  the  surrender,  had  drawn  together  a  vast  many  of 
the  gentler  sex,  in  addition  to  those  whose  duty  it  was  to 
accompany  their  royal  mistress  —  hurried  eagerly  through 
the  celebrated  courts  and  fretted  apartments  of  this  remark 
able  residence;  nor  was  curiosity  appeased  even  when 
night  came  to  place  a  temporary  stay  to  its  indulgence. 
The  Court  of  the  Lions,  in  particular,  a  place  still  renowned 
throughout  Christendom  for  its  remains  of  oriental  beauty, 
had  been  left  by  Boabdil  in  the  best  condition  ;  and,  although 
it  was  mid-winter,  by  the  aid  of  human  art  it  was  even  then 
gay  with  flowers  ;  while  the  adjacent  halls,  those  of  the  Two 
Sisters,  and  of  Abencerrages,  were  brilliant  with  light,  and 
alive  with  warriors  and  courtiers,  dignified  priests  and  lux 
uriant  beauty. 

Although  no  Spanish  eye  could  be  otherwise  than  familiar 
with  the  light  peculiar  graces  of  Moorish  architecture,  these 
of  the  Alhambra  so  much  surpassed  those  of  any  other  pa 
lace  which  had  been  erected  by  the  Mu&sulman  dynasties 
of  that  part  of  the  world,  that  their  glories  struck  the  be- 
Volders  with  the  freshness  of  novelty,  as  well  as  with  the 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  69 

magnificence  of  royalty.  The  rich  conceits  in  stucco,  an 
art  of  eastern  origin,  then  little  understood  in  Christendom  ; 
the  graceful  and  fanciful  Arabesques  —  which,  improved  on 
by  the  fancies  of  some  of  the  greatest  geniuses  the  world 
ever  saw,  have  descended  to  our  own  times,  and  got  to  be 
so  familiar  in  Europe,  though  little  known  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic  —  decorated  the  walls,  while  brilliant  fountains 
cast  their  waters  into  the  air,  and  fell  in  glittering  spray, 
resembling  diamonds. 

Among  the  throng  that  moved  through  this  scene  of 
almost  magical  beauty,  was  Beatriz  de  Bobadilla,  who  had 
long  been  the  wife  of  Don  Andres  de  Cabrera,  and  was  now 
generally  known  as  the  Marchioness  of  Moya;  the  con 
stant,  near,  and  confidential  friend  of  the  queen,  a  char 
acter  she  retained  until  her  royal  mistress  was  numbered 
with  the  dead.  On  her  arm  leaned  lightly,  a  youthful 
female,  of  an  appearance  so  remarkable,  that  few  strangers 
would  have  passed  her  without  turning  to  take  a  second 
look  at  features  and  a  countenance  that  were  seldom  seen 
and  forgotten.  This  was  Dona  Mercedes  de  Valverde,  one 
of  the  noblest  and  richest  heiresses  of  Castile ;  the  relative, 
ward,  and  adopted  daughter  of  the  queen's  friend  ;  favour 
ite  being  hardly  the  term  one  would  apply  to  the  relation 
in  which  Dona  Beatriz  stood  towards  Isabella.  It  was  not 
the  particular  beauty  of  Dona  Mercedes,  however,  that  ren 
dered  her  appearance  so  remarkable  and  attractive;  for, 
though  feminine,  graceful,  of  exquisite  form,  and  even  of 
pleasing  features,  there  were  many  in  that  brilliant  court 
who  would  generally  be  deemed  fairer.  But  no  other 
maiden  of  Castile  had  a  countenance  so  illuminated  by  the 
soul  within,  or  no  other  female  face  habitually  wore,  so  deep 
an  impression  of  sentiment  and  sensibility ;  and  the  pro 
fessed  physiognomist  would  have  delighted  to  trace  the  evi 
dences  of  a  deeply-seated,  earnest,  but  unobtrusive  enthu 
siasm,  which  even  cast  a  shade  of  melancholy  over  a  face 
that  fortune  and  the  heart  had  equally  intended  should  be 
sunny  and  serene.  Serene  it  was,  notwithstanding;  the 
shadow  that  rested  on  it  seeming  to  soften  and  render  in 
teresting  its  expression,  rather  than  to  disturb  its  tran 
quillity  or  to  cloud  its  loveliness. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  noble  matron  walked  Luis  de 


70  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Bobadilla,  keeping  a  little  in  advance  of  his  aunt,  in  a  way 
to  permit  his  own  dark  flashing  looks  to  meet,  whenever 
feeling  and  modesty  would  allow  it,  the  fine,  expressive, 
blue  eyes  of  Mercedes.  The  three  conversed  freely,  for 
the  royal  personages  had  retired  to  their  private  apart 
ments,  and  each  group  of  passengers  was  so  much  en 
tranced  with  the  novelty  of  its  situation  and  its  own  con 
versation,  as  to  disregard  the  remarks  of  others. 

"  This  is  a  marvel,  Luis,"  observed  Dona  Beatriz,  in 
continuation  of  a  subject  that  evidently  much  interested 
them  all,  "  that  thou,  a  truant  and  a  rover  thyself,  should 
now  have  heard  for  the  first  time  of  this  Colon  !  It  is 
many  years  since  he  has  been  soliciting  their  Highnesses 
for  their  royal  aid  in  effecting  his  purposes.  The  matter 
of  his  schemes  was  solemnly  debated  before  a  council  at 
Salamanca ;  and  he  hath  not  been  without  believers  at  the 
Court,  itself." 

"  Among  whom  is  to  be  classed  Dona  Beatriz  de  Ca 
brera,"  said  Mercedes,  with  that  melancholy  smile  that  had 
the  effect  to  bring  out  glimpses  of  all  the  deep  but  latent 
feeling  that  lay  concealed  beneath  the  surface :  "  I  have 
often  heard  Her  Highness  declare  that  Colon  hatn  no  truer 
friend  in  Castile." 

"  Her  Highness  is  seldom  mistaken,  child — and  never  in 
ray  heart.  I  do  uphold  the  man ;  for  to  me  he  seemeth 
one  fitted  for  some  great  and  honourable  undertaking ;  and 
surely  none  greater  hath  ever  been  proposed  or  imagined 
by  human  mind,  than  this  he  urgeth.  Think  -of  our  be- 
coming  acquainted  with  the  nations  of  the  other  side  of  the 
earth,  and  of  finding  easy  and  direct  means  of  communi 
cating  with  them,  and  of  imparting  to  them  the  consola 
tions  of  Holy  Church !" 

"  Ay,  Senora  my  aunt,"  cried  Luis,  laughing,  "  and  of 
walking  in  their  delightful  company  with  all  our  heels  in 
the  air,  and  our  heads  downwards !  I  hope  this  Colon  hath 
not  neglected  to  practise  a  little  in  the  art,  for  it  will  need 
some  time  to  gain  a  sure  foot,  in  such  circumstances.  He 
might  commence  on  the  sides  of  these  mountains,  by  way 
of  a  horn-book,  throwing  the  head  boldly  off  at  a  right- 
angle  ;  after  which,  the  walls  and  towers  of  this  Alhambra 


MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE.  71 

would  make  a  very  pretty  grammar,  or  stepping-stone  to 
new  progress." 

Mercedes  had  unconsciously  but  fervently  pressed  the 
arm  of  her  guardian,  as  Dona  Beatriz  admitted  her  interest 
in  the  success  of  the  great  project ;  hut  at  this  sally  of  Don 
Luis,  she  looked  serious,  and  threw  a  glance  at  him,  that 
he  himself  felt  to  be  reproachful.  To  win  the  love  of  his 
aunt's  ward  was  the  young  man's  most  ardent  wish ;  and  a 
look  of  dissatisfaction  could  at  any  moment  repress  that 
exuberance  of  spirits  which  often  led  him  into  an  appear 
ance  of  levity  that  did  injustice  to  the  really  sterling  quali 
ties  of  both  his  heart  and  mind.  Under  the  influence  of 
that  look,  then,  he  was  not  slow  to  repair  the  wrong  he  had 
done  himself,  by  adding  almost  as  soon  as  he  had  ceased  to 
speak  — 

"  The  Dona  Mercedes  is  of  the  discovering  party,  too, 
I  see ;  this  Colon  appeareth  to  have  had  more  success  with 
the  dames  of  Castile  than  with  her  nobles" — 

"  Is  it  extraordinary,  Don  Luis,"  interrupted  the  pensive- 
looking  girl,  "  that  women  should  have  more  confidence  in 
merit,  more  generous  impulses,  more  zeal  for  God,  than 
men  ?" 

"  It  must  be  even  so,  since  you  and  my  aunt,  Dona  Bea 
triz,  side  with  the  navigator.  But  I  am  not  always  to  be 
understood  in  the  light  I  express  myself;" — Mercedes  now 
smiled,  but  this  time  it  was  archly — "  I  have  never  stu 
died  with  the  minstrels,  nor,  sooth  to  say,  deeply  with  the 
churchmen.  To  be  honest  with  you,  I  have  been  much 
struck  with  this  noble  idea ;  and  if  Senor  Colon  doth,  in 
reality,  sail  in  quest  of  Cathay  and  the  Indies,  I  shall  pray 
their  Highnesses  to  let  me  be  of  the  party,  for,  now  that 
the  Moor  is  subdued,  there  remaineth  little  for  a  noble  to 
do  in  Spain." 

"  If  thou  should'st  really  go  on  this  expedition,"  said 
Dona  Beatriz,  with  grave  irony,  "  there  will,  at  least,  be 
one  human  being  topsy-turvy,  in  the  event  of  thy  reaching 
Cathay.  But  yonder  is  an  attendant  of  the  court ;  I  doubt 
if  Her  Highness  doth  not  desire  my  presence." 

The  Lady  of  Moya  was  right—the  messenger  coming  to 
announce  to  her  that  the  queen  required  her  attendance. 
The  manners  of  the  day  and  country  rendered  it  unseemly 


72  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

that  Dona  Mercedes  should  continue  her  promenade  accom 
panied  only  by  Don  Luis,  and  the  marchioness  led  the  way 
to  her  own  apartments,  where  a  saloon  suitable  to  her  rank 
and  to  her  favour  with  the  queen,  had  been  selected  for  her 
from  among  the  numberless  gorgeous  rooms  of  the  Moorish 
kings.  Even  here,  the  marchioness  paused  a  moment,  in 
thought,  before  she  would  leave  her  errant  nephew  alone 
with  her  ward. 

"  Though  a  rover,  he  is  no  troubadour,  and  cannot  charm 
thy  ear  with  false  rhymes.  It  were  better,  perhaps,  that  I 
sent  him  beneath  thy  balcony,  with  his  guitar ;  but  know- 
ing  so  well  his  dulness,  I  will  confide  in  it,  and  leave  him 
with  thee,  for  the  few  minutes  that  I  shall  be  absent.  A 
cavalier  who  hath  so  strong  a  dislike  to  reversing  the  order 
of  nature,  will  not  surely  condescend  to  go  on  his  knees, 
even  though  it  be  to  win  a  smils  from  the  sweetest  maiden 
in  all  Castile." 

Don  Luis  laughed ;  Dona  Beatriz  smiled,  as  she  kissed 
her  ward,  and  left  the  room  ;  while  Dona  Mercedes  blushed, 
ind  riveted  her  gaze  on  the  floor.  Luis  de  Bobadilla  was 
fhe  declared  suitor  and  sworn  knight  of  Mercedes  de  Val- 
verde ;  but,  though  so  much  favoured  by  birth,  fortune, 
affinity,  and  figure,  there  existed  some  serious  impediments 
to  his  success.  In  all  that  was  connected  with  the  consi 
derations  that  usually  decide  such  things,  the  union  was 
desirable;  but  there  existed,  nevertheless,  a  strong  influ 
ence  to  overcome,  in  the  scruples  of  Dona  Beatriz,  herself. 
High-principled,  accustomed  to  the  just-minded  views  of 
her  royal  mistress,  and  too  proud  to  do  an  unworthy  act, 
the  very  advantages  that  a  marriage  with  her  ward  offered 
to  her  nephew,  had  caused  the  marchioness  to  hesitate. 
Don  Luis  had  little  of  the  Castilian  gravity  of  character — 
and,  by  many,  his  animal  spirits  were  mistaken  for  light 
ness  of  disposition  and  levity  of  thought.  His  mother  was 
a  woman  of  a  very  illustrious  French  family ;  and  national 
pride  had  induced  most  observers  to  fancy  that  the  son  in 
herited  a  constitutional  disposition  to  frivolity,  that  was  to 
be  traced  to  the  besetting  weakness  of  a  whole  people.  A 
consciousness  of  his  being  so  viewed  at  home,  had,  indeed, 
driven  the  youth  abroad ;  and  as,  like  all  observant  tra 
vellers,  he  was  made  doubly  sensible  of  the  defects  of  his 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  73 

own  state  of  society  on  his  return,  a  species  of  estrange 
ment  had  grown  up  between  him  and  his  natural  associates 
that  had  urged  the  young  man,  again  and  again,  to  wander 
into  foreign  lands.    Nothing,  indeed,  but  his  early  and  con 
stantly  increasing  passion  for  Mercedes  had  induced  him  to 
return;  a  step  that,  fortunately  for  himself,   he  had   last 
taken  in  time  to  assist  in  the  reduction  of  Granada.     Not- 
withstanding  these  traits,  which,  in  a  country  like  Castile, 
might  be  properly  enough  termed  peculiarities,  Don  Luis 
de  Bobadilla  was  a  knight  worthy  of  his  lineage  and  name. 
His  prowess  in  the  field  and  in  the  tourney,  indeed,  was  so 
very  marked  as  to  give  him  a  high  military  character,  in 
despite  of  what  were  deemed  his  failings ;  and  he  passed 
rather  as  an  inconsiderate  and  unsafe  young  man,  than  as 
one  who  was  either  debased  or  wicked.     Martial  qualities, 
in  that  age  in  particular,  redeemed  a  thousand  faults ;  and 
Don  Luis  had  even  been  known  to  unhorse,  in  the  tourney, 
Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  then   the   most   expert  lance  in  Spain. 
Such  a  man  could  not  be  despised,  though  he  might  be  dis 
trusted.     But  the  feeling  which  governed  his  aunt,  referred 
quite  as  much  to  her  own  character  as  to  his.    Deeply  con 
scientious,  while  she  understood  her  nephew's  real  qualities 
much  better  than  mere  superficial  observers,  she  had  her 
doubts  about  the  propriety  of  giving  the  rich  heiress  who 
was  entrusted  to  her  care,  to  so  near  a  relative,  when  all 
could  not  applaud  the  act.     She  feared,  too,  that  her  own 
partiality  might  deceive  her,  and  that  Luis  might  in  truth 
be  the  light  and  frivolous  being  he  sometimes  appeared  to 
be  in  Castilian  eyes,  and  that  the  happiness  of  her  ward 
would  prove  the  sacrifice  of  the  indiscretion.     With  these 
doubts,  then,  while  she  secretly  desired  the  union,  she  had 
in  public  looked  coldly  on  her  nephew's  suit ;  and,  though 
unable,  without  a  harshness  that  circumstances  would  not 
warrant,  to  prevent  all  intercourse,  she  had  not  only  taken 
frequent  occasions  to  let  Mercedes  understand  her  distrust, 
but  she  had  observed  the  precaution  not  to  leave  so  hand 
some  a  suitor,  notwithstanding  he  was  often  domiciliated  in 
her  own  house,  much  alone  with  her  ward. 

The  state  of  Mercedes'  feelings  was  known  only  to  her 
self.  She  was  beautiful,  of  an  honourable  family,  and  an 
heiress  •  and  as  human  infirmities  were  as  besetting  be- 


74  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

neath  the  stately  mien  of  the  fifteenth  century,  as  they  are 
to-day,  she  had  often  heard  the  supposed  faults  of  Don 
Luis's  character  sneered  at,  by  those  who  felt  distrustful  of 
his  good  looks  and  his  opportunities.  Few  young  females 
would  have  had  the  courage  to  betray  any  marked  prefer 
ence  under  such  circumstances,  until  prepared  to  avow  their 
choice,  and  to  take  sides  with  its  subject  against  the  world ; 
and  the  quiet  but  deep  enthusiasm  that  prevailed  in  the 
moral  system  of  the  fair  young  Castilian,  was  tempered  by 
a  prudence  that  prevented  her  from  running  into  most  of  its 
lighter  excesses.  The  forms  and  observances  that  usually 
surround  young  women  of  rank,  came  in  aid  of  this  native 
prudence;  and  even  Don  Luis,  himself,  though  he  had 
watched  the  countenance  and  emotions  of  her  to  whom  he 
had  so  long  urged  his  suit,  with  a  lover's  jealousy  and  a 
lover's  instincts,  was  greatly  in  doubt  whether  he  had  suc 
ceeded  in  the  least,  in  touching  her  heart.  By  one  of  those 
unlooked-for  concurrences  of  circumstances' that  so  often 
decide  the  fortunes  of  men,  whether  as  lovers  or  in  more 
worldly-minded  pursuits,  these  doubts  were  now  about  to  be 
unexpectedly  and  suddenly  removed. 

The  triumph  of  the  Christian  arms,  the  novelty  of  her 
situation,  and  the  excitement  of  the  whole  scene,  had 
aroused  the  feelings  of  Mercedes  from  that  coy  conceal 
ment  in  which  they  usually  lay  smothered  beneath  the  co 
vering  of  maiden  diffidence ;  and  throughout  the  evening 
her  smile  had  been  more  open,  her  eye  brighter,  and  her 
cheeks  more  deeply  flushed,  than  was  usual  even  with  one 
whose  smiles  were  always  sweet,  whose  eyes  were  never 
dull,  and  whose  cheeks  answered  so  sensitively  to  the  vary 
ing  impulses  within. 

As  his  aunt  quitted  the  room,  leaving  him  alone  with  Mer 
cedes  for  the  first  time  since  his  return  from  his  last  ramble, 
Don  Luis  eagerly  threw  himself  on  a  stool  that  stood  near 
the  feet  of  his  adored,  who  placed  herself  on  a  sumptuous 
?ouch,  that,  twenty-four  hours  before,  had  held  the  person 
of  a  princess  of  Abdallah's  family. 

"  Much  as  I  honour  and  reverence  Her  Highness,"  the 
/oung  man  hurriedly  commenced,  "  my  respect  and  venera- 
.ion  are  now  increased  ten  -  fold  !  Would  that  she  might 
•end  for  my  beloved  aunt  thrice  where  she  now  wants  her 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  75 

services  only  once !  and  may  her  presence  become  so  ne 
cessary  to  her  sovereign  that  the  affairs  of  Castile  cannot 
go  on  without  her  counsel,  if  so  blessed  an  opportunity  as 
this,  to  tell  you  all  I  feel,  Dona  Mercedes,  is  to  follow  her 
obedience !" 

"  It  is  not  they  who  are  most  fluent  of  speech,  or  the 
most  vehement,  who  always  feel  the  deepest,  Don  Luis  de 
Bobadilla." 

"  Nor  do  they  feel  the  lea'st.  Mercedes,  thou  canst  not 
doubt  my  love !  It  hath  grown  with  my  growth — increased 
with  each  increase  of  my  ideas — until  it  hath  got  to  be  so 
interwoven  with  my  mind  itself,  that  I  can  scarce  use  a 
faculty  that  thy  dear  image  doth  not  mingle  with  it.  In  all 
that  is  beautiTul,  I  behold  thee ;  if  I  listen  to  the  song  of  a 
bird,  it  is  thy  carol  to  the  lute ;  or  if  I  feel  the  gentle  south 
wind  from  the  fragrant  isles  fanning  my  cheek,  I  would 
fain  think  it  thy  sigh." 

"  You  have  dwelt  so  much  among  the  light  conceits  of 
the  French  court,  Don  Luis,  you  appear  to  have  forgotten 
that  the  heart  of  a  Castilian  girl  is  too  true,  and  too  sin 
cere,  to  meet  such  rhapsodies  with  favour." 

Had  Don  Luis  been  older,  or  more  experienced  in  the 
sex,  he  would  have  been  flattered  by  this  rebuke  —  for  he 
would  have  detected  in  the  speaker's  manner,  both  feeling 
of  a  gentler  nature  than  her  words  expressed,  and  a  tender 
regret. 

"  If  thou  ascribest  to  me  rhapsodies,  thou  dost  me  great 
injustice.  I  may  not  do  credit  to  my  own  thoughts  and 
feelings ;  but  never  hath  my  tongue  uttered  aught  to  thee, 
Mercedes,  that  the  heart  hath  not  honestly  urged.  Have  I 
not  loved  thee  since  thou  and  I  were  children  1  Did  I  ever 
fail  to  show  my  preference  for  thee  when  we  were  boy  and 
girl,  in  all  the  sports  and  light-hearted  enjoyments  of  that 
guileless  period  ?" 

"  Guileless, "truly,"  answered  Mercedes,  her  look  bright 
ening  as  it  might  be  with  agreeable  fancies  and  a  flood  of 
pleasant  recollections  —  doing  more,  in  a  single  instant,  to 
break  down  the  barriers  of  her  reserve,  than  years  of 
schooling  had  effected  towards  building  them  up.  «*  Thou 
wert  then,  at  least,  sincere,  Luis,  and  I  placed  full  faith  in 
thy  friendship,  and  in  thy  desire  to  please." 


76  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Bless  thee,  bless  thee,  for  these  precious  words,  Mer 
cedes  !  for  the  first  time  in  two  years,  hast  thou  spoken  tc 
me  as  thou  wert  wont  to  do,  and  called  me  Luis,  without 
that  courtly,  accursed,  Don." 

"A  noble  Castilian  should  never  regard  his  honours 
lightly,  and  he  oweth  it  to  his  rank  to  see  that  others  re 
spect  them,  too ;"  answered  our  heroine,  looking  down,  as 
if  she  already  half  repented  of  the  familiarity.  "  You  are 
quick  to  remind  me  of  my  forgetfulness,  Don  Luis  de  Bo- 
badilla." 

"  This  unlucky  tongue  of  mine  can  never  follow  the  path 
that  its  owner  wisheth  !  Hast  thou  not  seen  in  all  my  looks 
—  all  my  acts  —  all  my  motives  —  a  desire  to  please  thee, 
and  thee  alone,  lovely  Mercedes?  When  Her  Highness 
gave  her  royal  approbation  of  my  success,  in  the  last 
tourney,  did  I  not  seek  thine  eye,  in  order  to  ask  if  thou 
noted'st  it?  Hast  thou  ever  expressed  a  wish,  that  I  have 
not  proved  an  eager  desire  to  see  it  accomplished  ?" 

"  Nay,  now,  Luis,  thou  emboldenest  me  to  remind  thee 
that  I  expressed  a  wish  that  thou  would'st  not  go  on  thy 
last  voyage  to  the  north,  and  yet  thou  didst  depart !  I  felt 
that  it  would  displease  Dona  Beatriz;  thy  truant  dispo 
sition  having  made  her  uneasy  lest  thou  should'st  get  alto 
gether  into  the  habits  of  a  rover,  and  into  disfavour  with 
the  queen." 

"  It  was  for  this  that  thou  mad'st  the  request,  and  it 
wounded  my  pride  to  think  that  Mercedes  de  Valverde 
should  so  little  understand  my  character,  as  to  believe  it 
possible  a  noble  of  my  name  and  lineage  could  so  far  for 
get  his  duties  as  to  sink  into  the  mere  associate  of  pilots 
and  adventurers." 

"  Thou  didst  not  know  that  I  believed  this  of  thee." 

"  Hadst  thou  asked  of  me,  Mercedes,  to  remain  for  thy 
fcake  —  nay,  hadst  thou  imposed  the  heaviest  services  on 
me,  as  thy  knight,  or,  as  one  who  enjoyed  the  smallest  de 
cree  of  thy  favour — I  would  have  parted  with  life  sooner  than 
I  would  have  parted  from  Castile.  But  not  even  a  look  of 
kindness  could  I  obtain,  in  reward  for  all  the  pain  I  had 
felt  on  thy  account" — 

"Pain,  Luis! M 

"  Is  it  not  pain  to  love  to  the  degree  that  one  might  kiss 


MERCEDESs    OF    CASTILE.  77 

the  earth  that  received  the  foot-print  of  its  object — and  yet 
to  meet  with  no  encouragement  from  fair  words,  no  friendly 
glance  of  the  eye,  nor  any  sign  or  symbol  to  betoken  that 
the  being  one  hath  enshrined  in  his  heart's  core,  ever  think- 
eth  of  her  suitor  except  as  a  reckless  rover  and  a  hare- 
brained  adventurer?" 

"Luis  de  Bobadilla,  no  one  that  really  knoweth  thy 
character,  can  ever  truly  think  thus  of  thee." 

"A  million  of  thanks  for  these  few  words,  beloved  g-\rl, 
and  ten  millions  for  the  gentle  smile  that  hath  accompanied 
them !  Thou  might'st  mould  me  to  all  thy  wishes" 

"My  wishes,  Don  Luis!" 

"  To  all  thy  severe  opinions  of  sobriety  and  dignity  of 
conduct,  would'st  thou  but  feel  sufficient  interest  in  me  to  let 
me  know  that  my  acts  can  give  thee  either  pain  or  plea 
sure." 

"  Can  it  be  otherwise  ?  Could'st  thou,  Luis,  see  with  in 
difference  the  proceedings  of  one  thou  hast  known  from 
childhood,  and  esteemed  as  a  friend  ?" 

"  Esteem  !  Blessed  Mercedes  !  dost  thou  own  even  that 
little  in  my  favour  ?" 

"  It  is  not  little,  Luis,  to  esteem — but  much.  They  who 
prize  virtue  never  esteem  the  unworthy  ;  and  it  is  not  pos 
sible  to  know  thy  excellent  heart  and  manly  nature,  with 
out  esteeming  thee.  Surely  I  have  never  concealed  my 
esteem  from  thee,  or  from  any  one  else." 

"  Hast  thou  concealed  aught  ?  Ah  !  Mercedes,  complete 
this  heavenly  condescension,  and  admit  that  one — as  lightly 
as  thou  wilt  —  but,  that  one  soft  sentiment  hath,  at  times, 
mingled  with  this  esteem." 

Mercedes  blushed  brightly,  but  she  would  not  make  the 
often-solicited  acknowledgment.  It  was  some  little  time 
before  she  answered  at  all.  When  she  did  speak,  it  was 
hesitatingly,  and  with  frequent  pauses,  as  if  she  distrusted 
the  propriety  or  the  discretion  of  that  which  she  was  about 
to  utter. 

"Thou   hast  travelled   much  and  far,  Luis,"  she  said, 
"  and  hast  lost  some  favour  on  account  of  thy  roving  pro- 
pensities ;  why  not  regain  the  confidence  of  thy  aunt  by 
the  very  means  through  which  it  has  been  tost  ?" 
7* 


78  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  I  do  not  comprehend  thee.  This  is  singular  counsel  lo 
come  from  one  like  thee,  who  art  prudence  itself!" 

"  The  prudent  and  discreet  think  well  of  their  acts  and 
words,  and  are  the  more  to  be  confided  in.  Thou  seemest 
to  have  been  struck  with  these  bold  opinions  of  the  Senor 
Colon  ;  and  while  thou  hast  derided  them,  I  can  see  that 
they  have  great  weight  on  thy  mind." 

"I  shall,  henceforth,  regard  thee  with  tenfold  respect, 
Mercedes  ;  for  thou  hast  penetrated  deeper  than  my  foolish 
affectation  of  contempt,  and  all  my  light  language,  and  dis 
covered  the  real  feeling  that  lieth  underneath.  Ever  since  I 
have  heard  of  this  vast  project,  it  hath  indeed  haunted  my 
imagination  ;  and  the  image  of  the  Genoese  hath  con 
stantly  stood  beside  thine,  dearest  girl,  before  my  eyes,  if 
not  in  my  heart.  I  doubt  if  there  be  not  some  truth  in  his 
opinions  ;  so  noble  an  idea  cnn  not  be  wholly  false !" 

The  fine,  full  eye  of  Mercedes  was  fastened  intently  on 
the  countenance  of  Don  Luis  ;  and  its  brilliancy  increased, 
as  some  of  that  latent  enthusiasm  which  dwelt  within,  kin 
dled  and  beg;m  to  glow  at  this  outlet  of  the  feelings  of  the 
soul. 

"There  zs,"  she  answered,  solemnly  —  "there  must  be 
truth  in  it !  The  Genoese  hath  been  inspired  of  Heaven, 
with  his  sublime  thoughts,  and  he  will  live,  sooner  or  later, 
to  prove  their  truth.  Imagine  this  earth  fairly  encircled  by 
a  ship  ;  the  farthest  east,  the  land  of  the  heathen,  brought 
in  close  communion  with  ourselves,  and  the  cross  casting 
its  shadows  under  the  burning  sun  of  Cathay  !  These  are 
glorious,  heavenly,  anticipations,  Luis  ;  and  would  it  not  be 
an  imperishable  renown,  to  share  in  the  honour  of  having 
aided  in  bringing  about  so  great  a  discovery  ?" 

"  By  Heaven !  I  will  see  the  Genoese  as  soon  as  the 
morrow's  sun  shall  appear,  and  offer  to  make  one  in  his. 
enterprise.  He  shall  no*  need  for  gold,  if  that  be  his  only 
want." 

"  Thou  speakest  like  a  generous,  noble-minded,  fearless 
young  Castilian,  as  thou  art !"  said  Mercedes,  with  an  en 
thusiasm  that  set  at  naught  the  usual  guards  of  her  discre 
tion  and  her  habits,  "  and  as  becometh  Luis  de  Boba- 
dilla.  But  gold  is  not  plenty  with  any  of  us  at  this  mo 
ment,  and  it  will  surpass  the  power  of  an  ordinary  subject 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  79 

to  furnish  that  which  will  be  necessary.  Nor  is  it  meet 
that  any  but  sovereigns  should  send  forth  such  an  expedi 
tion,  as'  there  may  be  vast  territories  to  govern  and  dispose 
of,  should  Colon  succeed.  My  powerful  kinsman,  the  Duke 
of  Medina  Celi,  hath  had  this  matter  in  close  deliberation 
and  he  viewed  it  favourably,  as  is  shown  by  his  letters  tc 
Her  Highness  ;  but  even  he  conceived  it  a  matter  toe 
weighty  to  be  attempted  by  aught  but  a  crowned  head,  and 
he  hath  used  much  influence  with  our  mistress,  to  gain  her 
over  to  the  opinion  of  the  Genoese's  sagacity.  It  is  idle  to 
think,  therefore,  of  aiding  effectually  in  this  noble  enter 
prise,  unless  it  be  through  their  Highnesses." 

"  Thou  knowest,  Mercedes,  that  I  can  do  nought  for 
Colon,  with  the  court.  The  king  is  the  enemy  of  all  who 
are  not  as  wary,  cold,  and  as  much  given  to  artifice  as  him 
self"— 

"  Luis  !  thou  art  in  his  palace  —  beneath  his  roof,  enjoy 
ing  his  hospitality  and  protection,  at  this  very  moment !" 

"  Not  I,"  answered  the  young  man,  with  warmth — "  this 
is  the  abode  of  my  royal  mistress,  Dona  Isabella  ;  Granada 
being  a  conquest  of  Castile,  and  not  of  Aragon.  Touch 
ing  the  queen,  Mercedes,  thou  shalt  never  hear  disrespectful 
word  from  me,  for,  like  thyself,  she  is  all  that  is  virtuous, 
gentle,  and  kind  in  woman ;  but  the  king  hath  many  of  the 
faults  of  us  corrupt  and  mercenary  men.  Thou  canst  not 
tell  me  of  a  young,  generous,  warm-blooded  cavalier,  even 
among  his  own  Aragonese,  who  truly  and  confidingly 
loveth  Don  Fernando ;  whilst  all  of  Castile  adore  the  Dona 
Isabella." 

"  This  may  be  true,  in  part,  Luis,  but  it  is  altogether  im 
prudent.  Don  Fernando  is  a  king,  and  I  fear  me,  from  the 
little  I  have  seen  while  dwelling  in  a  court,  that  they  who 
manage  the  affairs  of  mortals  must  make  large  concessions 
to  their  failings,  or  human  depravity  will  thwart  the  wisest 
measures  lhat  can  be  devised.  Moreover,  can  one  truly 
love  the  wife  and  not  esteem  the  husband  1  To  me  it  seem- 
eth  that  the  tie  is  so  near  and  dear  as  to  leave  the  virtues 
and  the  characters  of  a  common  identity." 

"  Surely,  thou  dost  not  mean  to  compare  the  modest 
piety,  the  holy  truth,  the  sincere  virtue,  of  our  royal  mis- 


90  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

tress,   with   the   cautious,   wily,   policy   of  our  scheming 
master!" 

"  I  desire  not  to  make  comparisons  between  them,  Luis. 
We  are  bound  to  honour  and  obey  both ;  and  if  Dona  Isa 
bella  hath  more  of  the  confiding  truth  and  pure-heartedness 
of  her  sex,  than  His  Highness,  is  it  not  ever  so  as  between 
man  and  woman  ?" 

"  If  I  could  really  think,  that  thou  likenest  me,  in  any 
way,  with  that  managing  and  false-faced  King  of  Aragon, 
much  as  I  love  thee,  Mercedes,  I  would  withdraw,  for  ever, 
in  pure  shame." 

"  No  one  will  liken  thee,  Luis,  to  the  false-tongued  or  the 
double-faced  ;  for  it  is  thy  failing  to  speak  truth  when  it  might 
be  better  to  say  nothing,  as  witness  the  present  discourse, 
and  to  look  at  those  who  displease  thee,  as  if  ever  ready  to 
point  thy  lance,  and  spur  thy  charger  in  their  very  teeth." 

"  My  looks  have  been  most  unfortunate,  fair  Mercedes, 
if  they  have  left  such  memories  in  thee !"  answered  the 
youth,  reproachfully. 

"  I  speak  not,  in  any  manner,  touching  myself,  for  to 
me,  Luis,  thou  hast  ever  been  gentle  and  kind,"  interrupted 
the  young  Castilian  girl,  with  a  haste  and  earnestness  that 
hurried  the  blood  to  her  cheeks  a  moment  afterwards  ;  "  but, 
solely,  that  thou  may'st  be  more  guarded  in  thy  remarks 
on  the  king." 

"  Thou  began'st  by  saying  that  I  was  a  rover" — 

u  Nay,  I  have  used  no  such  term  of  reproach,  Don  Luis ; 
thy  aunt  may  have  said  this :  but  it  could  have  been  with 
no  intent  to  wound.  I  said  that  thou  hadst  travelled  far 
and  much." 

"  Well  —  well  —  I  merit  the  title,  and  shall  not  complain 
of  my  honours.  Thou  saidst  that  I  had  travelled  far  and 
much,  and  thou  spokest,  approvingly,  of  the  project  of  this 
Genoese.  Am  I  to  understand,  Mercedes,  it  is  thy  wish 
that  I  should  make  one  of  the  adventurers  ?" 

•'Such  was  my  meaning,  Luis,  for  I  have  thought  it  an 
emprise  fitting  thy  daring  mind  and  willing  sword ;  and  the 
glory  of  success  would  atone  for  a  thousand  trifling  errors 
committed  under  the  heat  and  inconsideration  of  youth." 

Don  Luis  regarded  the  flushed  cheek  and  brightened  eyes 
of  the  beautiful  enthusiast  nearly  a  minute,  in  silent  bu 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  K1 

intense  observation  ;  for  the  tooth  of  doubt  and  jealousy 
had  fastened  on  him,  and,  with  the  self-distrust  of  true  affec 
tion,  he  questioned  how  far  he  was  worthy  to  interest  so 
fair  a  being,  and  had  misgivings  concerning  the  motive  that 
induced  her  to  wish  him  to  depart. 

"  I  wish  I  could  read  thy  heart,  Dona  Mercedes,"  he  at 
length  resumed  ;  "  for,  while  the  witching  modesty  and  coy 
reserve  of  thy  sex,  serve  but  to  bind  us  so  much  the  closer 
in  thy  chains,  they  puzzle  the  understanding  of  men  more 
accustomed  to  rude  encounters  in  the  field  than  to  the  mazes 
of  their  ingenuity.  Dost  thou  desire  me  to  embark  in  an 
adventure  that  most  men,  the  wise  and  prudent  Don  Fer 
nando  at  their  head  —  he  whom  thou  so  much  esteemest, 
too  —  look  upon  as  the  project  of  a  visionary,  and  as  lead 
ing  to  certain  destruction  ?  Did  I  think  this,  I  would  depart 
to-morrow,  if  it  were  only  that  my  hated  presence  should 
never  more  disturb  thy  happiness." 

"  Don  Luis,  you  have  no  justification  for  this  cruel  sus 
picion,"  said  Mercedes,  endeavouring  to  punish  her  lover's 
distrust  by  an  affectation  of  resentment,  though  the  tears 
struggled  through  her  pride,  and  fell  from  her  reproachful 
eyes.  "  You  know  that  no  one,  here  or  elsewhere,  hateth 
you  ;  you  know  that  you  are  a  general  favourite,  though 
Castilian  prudence  and  Castilian  reserve  may  not  always 
view  your  wandering  life  with  the  same  applause  as  they 
give  to  the  more  attentive  courtier  and  rigidly  observant 
knight." 

"  Pardon  me,  dearest,  most  beloved  Mercedes  ;  thy  cold 
ness  and  aversion  sometime  madden  me." 

"  Coldness  !  aversion  !  Luis  de  Bobadilla  !  When  hath 
Mercedes  de  Valverde  ever  shown  either,  to  thee  ?" 

"  I  fear  that  Dona  Mercedes  de  Valverde  is,  even  now, 
putting  me  to  some  such  proof." 

"  Then  thou  little  knowest  her  motives,  and  ill  appreci- 
atest  her  heart.  No,  Luis,  1  am  not  averse,  and  would  not 
appear  cold,  to  thee.  If  thy  wayward  feelings  get  so  much 
the  mastery,  and  pain  thee  thus,  I  will  strive  to  be  more 
plain.  Yes !  rather  than  thou  should'st  carry  away  with 
thee  the  false  notion,  and  perhaps  plunge,  again,  into  some 
unthinking  sea-adventure,  I  will  subdue  my  maiden  pride, 
and  forget  the  reserve  and  caution  that  best  become  my  sex 


82  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

and  rank,  to  relieve  thy  mind.  In  advising  thee  to  attach 
thyself  to  this  Colon,  and  to  enter  freely  into  his  noble 
schemes,  I  had  thine  own  happiness  in  view,  as  thou  hast, 
time  and  again,  sworn  to  me,  thy  happiness  could  only  be 
secured" — 

"  Mercedes !  what  mean'st  thou  ?  My  happiness  can 
only  be  secured  by  a  union  with  thee !" 

"And  thy  union  with  me  can  only  be  secured  by  thy  en 
nobling  that  besetting  propensity  to  roving,  by  some  act 
of  worthy  renown,  that  shall  justify  Dona  Beatriz  in  be 
stowing  her  ward  on  a  truant  nephew,  and  gain  the  favour 
of  Dofia  Isabella." 

"And  thou  ! — would  this  adventure  win  thee,  too,  to  view 
me  with  kindness?" 

"  Luis,  if  thou  wilt  know  all,  I  am  won  already — nay — 
restrain  this  impetuosity,  and  hear  all  I  have  to  say. 
Even  while  I  confess  so  much  more  than  is  seemly  in  a 
maiden,  thou  art  not  to  suppose  I  can  farther  forget  myself. 
Without  the  cheerful  consent  of  my  guardian,  and  the  gra 
cious  approbation  of  Her  Highness,  I  will  wed  no  man — 
no,  not  even  thee,  Luis  de  Bobadiila,  dear  as  I  acknowledge 
thee  to  be  to  my  heart" — the  ungovernable  emotions  of 
female  tenderness  caused  the  words  to  be  nearly  smothered 
in  tears — "  would  I  wed,  without  the  smiles  and  congratu 
lations  of  all  who  have  a  right  to  smile,  or  weep,  for  any 
of  the  house  of  Valverde.  Thou  and  I  cannot  marry  like 
a  village  hind  and  village  girl;  it  is  suitable  that  we 
stand  before  a  prelate,  with  a  large  circle  of  approving 
friends  to  grace  our  union.  Ah  !  Luis,  thou  hast  reproached 
me  with  coldness  arid  indifference  to  thee"  —  sobs  nearly 
stifled  the  generous  girl  — "  but  others  have  not  been  so 
blind — nay,  speak  not,  but  suffer  me,  now  that  my  heart  is 
overflowing,  to  unburthen  myself  to  thee,  entirely,  for  I 
fear  that  shame  and  regret  will  come  soon  enough  to  cause 
repentance  for  what  I  now  confess  —  but  all  have  not  been 
blind  as  thou.  Our  gracious  queen  well  understandeth  the 
female  heart,  and  that,  thou  hast  been  so  slow  to  discover, 
she  hath  long  seen ;  and  her  quickness  of  eye  and  thought 
hath  alone  prevented  me  from  saying  to  thee,  earlier,  a  part 
at  least  of  that  which  I  now  reluctantly  confess" — 

"  How !    Is  Dona  Isabella,  too,  my  enemy  ?    Have  I  Her 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  83 

Highness's  scruples  to  overcome,  as  well  as  those  of  my 
cold-hearted  and  prudish  aunt?" 

"  Luis,  thy  intemperance  causeth  thee  to  be  unjust. 
Dona  Beatriz  of  Moya  is  neither  cold-hearted  nor  prudish, 
but  all  that  is  the  reverse.  A  more  generous  or  truer  spirit 
never  sacrificed  self  to  friendship,  and  her  very  nature  is 
frankness  and  simplicity.  Much  of  that  I  so  love  in  thee, 
cometh  of  her  family,  and  thou  should'st  not  reproach  her 
for  it.  As  for  Her  Highness,  certes,  it  is  not  needed  that  I 
should  proclaim  her  qualities.  Thou  knowest  that  she  is 
deemed  the  mother  of  her  people ;  that  she  regardeth  the 
interests  of  all  equally,  or  so  far  as  her  knowledge  will 
allow ;  and  that  what  "she  doth  for  any,  is  ever  done  with 
true  affection,  and  a  prudence  that  I  have  heard  the  cardinal 
say,  seemeth  to  be  inspired  by  infinite  wisdom." 

"Ay,  it  is  not  difficult,  Mercedes,  to  seem  prudent,  and 
benevolent,  and  inspired,  with  Castile  for  a  throne,  and 
Leon,  with  othor  rich  provinces,  for  a  footstool !" 

"  Don  Luis,  if  you  would  retain  my  esteem,"  answered 
the  single-minded  girl,  with  a  gravity  that  had  none  of  her 
sex's  weakness  in  it,  though  much  of  her  sex's  truth  — 
"speak  not  lightly  of  my  royal  mistress.  Whatever  she 
may  have  done  in  this  matter,  hath  been  done  with  a  mo 
ther's  feelings  and  a  mother's  kindness  —  thy  injustice 
maketh  me  almost  to  apprehend,  with  a  mother's  wisdom." 

"  Forgive  me,  adored,  beloved  Mercedes !  a  thousand 
times  more  adored  and  loved  than  ever,  now  that  thou  hast 
been  so  generous  and  confiding.  But,  I  cannot  rest  in 
peace  until  I  know  what  the  queen  hath  said  and  done,  in 
any  thing  that  toucheth  thee  and  me." 

"  Thou  knowest  how  kind  and  gracious  the  queen  hath 
ever  been  to  me,  Luis,  and  how  much  I  have  reason  to  be 
grateful  for  her  many  condescensions  and  favours.  I  know 
not  how  it  is,  but,  while  thy  aunt  hath  never  seemed  to  de 
tect  my  feelings,  and  all  those  related  to  me  by  blood  have 
appeared  to  be  in  the  same  darkness,  the  royal  eye  hath 
penetrated  a  mystery  that,  a.t  the  moment,  I  do  think,  was 
even  concealed  from  myself.  Thou  rememberest  the  tour 
ney  that  took  place  just  before  thou  left  us  on  thy  last  mad 
expedition?" 

"  Do  I  not?     Was  it  not  thy  coldness  after  my  success 


84  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE 

in  that  tourney,  and  when  I  even  wore  thy  favours,  that 
not  only  drove  me  out  of  Spain,  but  almost  drove  me  out 
of  the  world?" 

"  If  the  world  could  impute  thy  acts  to  such  a  cause,  all 
obstacles  would  at  once  be  removed,  and  we  might  be  happy 
without  further  efforts.  But,"  and  Mercedes  smiled  archly, 
though  with  great  tenderness  in  her  voice  and  looks,  as  she 
added,  "  I  fear  thou  art  much  addicted  to  these  fits  of  mad 
ness,  and  that  thou  wilt  never  cease  to  wish  to  be  driven  to 
the  uttermost  limits  of  the  world,  if  not  fairly  out  of  it." 

"  It  is  in  thy  power  to  make  me  as  stationary  as  the 
towers  of  this  Alhambra.  One  such  smile,  daily,  would 
chain  me  like  a  captive  Moor  at  thy  feet,  and  take  away 
all  desire  to  look  at  other  objects  than  thy  beauty.  But  Her 
Highness  —  thou  hast  forgotten  to  add  what  Her  Highness 
hath  said  and  done." 

"  In  that  tourney  thou  wert  conqueror,  Luis  !  The  whole 
chivalry  of  Castile  was  in  the  saddle,  that  glorious  day,  and 
yet  none  could  cope  with  thee !  Even  Alonzo  de  Ojeda 
was  unhorsed  by  thy  lance,  and  all  mouths  were  filled  with 
thy  praises ;  all  memories  —  perhaps  it  would  be  better  to 
say  that  all  memories  but  one,  forgot  thy  failings." 

"And  that  one  was  thine,  cruel  Mercedes  !" 

"  Thou  knowest  better,  unkind  Luis  !  That  day  I  re 
membered  nothing  but  thy  noble,  generous  heart,  manly 
bearing  in  the  tilt-yard,  and  excellent  qualities.  The  more 
mindful  memory  was  the  queen's,  who  sent  for  me,  to  her 
closet,  when  the  festivities  were  over,  and  caused  me  to 
pass  an  hour  with  her,  in  gentle,  affectionate,  discourse, 
before  she  touched  at  all,  on  the  real  object  of  her  com 
mand.  She  spoke  to  me,  Luis,  of  our  duties  as  Christians, 
of  our  duties  as  females,  and,  most  of  all,  of  the  solemn 
obligations  that  we  contract  in  wedlock,  and  of  the  many 
pains  that,  at  best,  attend  that  honoured  condition.  When 
she  had  melted  me  to  tears,  by  an  affection  that  equalled  a 
mother's  love,  she  made  me  promise  —  and  I  confirmed  it 
with  a  respectful  vow  —  that  I  would  never  appear  at  the 
altar,  while  she  lived,  without  her  being  present  to  approve 
of  my  nuptials ;  or,  if  prevented  by  disease  or  duty,  at 
least  not  without  a  consent  given  under  her  royal  signa- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  85 

"  By  St.  Denis  or  Paris  !  Her  Highness  enJeavoured  to 
iuiiuenee  thy  generous  and  pure  mind  against  me !" 

"  Thy  name  was  not  even  mentioned,  Luis,  nor  would  i 
have  been  in  any  way  concerned  in  the  discourse,  had  no* 
my  unbidden  thoughts  turned  anxiously  towards  thee 
What  Her  Highness  meditated,  I  do  not  even  now  know 
hut  it  was  the  manner  in  which  my  own  sensitive  feelings 
brought  up  thy  image,  that  hath  made  me,  perhaps  idly, 
fancy  the  effect  might  be  to  prevent  me  from  wedding 
thee,  without  Dona  Isabella's  consent.  But,  knowing,  as  I 
well  do,  her  maternal  heart  and  gentle  affections,  how  can 
I  doubt  that  she  will  yield  to  my  wishes,  when  she  knoweth 
that  my  choice  is  not  really  unworthy,  though  it  may  seem 
to  the  severely  prudent  in  some  measure  indiscreet." 

"But  thou  thinkest  —  thou  feelest,  Mercedes,  that  it  was 
in  fear  of  me  that  Her  Highness  extorted  the  vow  ?" 

"  I  apprehended  it,  as  I  have  confessed  with  more  readi- 
nass  than  became  a  maiden's  pride,  because  thou  wert  up- 
permost  in  my  mind.  Then  thy  triumphs  throughout  the 
day,  and  the  manner  in  which  thy  name  was  in  all  men's 
mouths,  might  well  tempt  the  thoughts  to  dwell  on  thy 
person." 

"  Mercedes,  thou  canst  not  deny  that  thou  believest  Her 
Highness  extorted  that  vow  in  dread  of  me !" 

"  I  wish  to  deny  nothing  that  is  true,  Don  Luis  ;  and  you 
are  early  teaching  me  to  repent  of  the  indiscreet  avowal  1 
have  made.  That  it  was  in  dread  of  you  that  Her  High 
ness  spoke,  I  do  deny ;  for  I  cannot  think  she  has  any 
such  feelings  towards  you.  She  was  full  of  maternal  affec 
tion  for  me,  and  I  think,  for  I  will  conceal  naught  that  I 
truly  believe,  that  apprehension  of  thy  powers  to  please, 
Luis,  may  have  induced  her  to  apprehend  that  an  orphan 
girl,  like  myself,  might  possibly  consult  her  fancy  more 
than  her  prudence,  and  wed  one  who  seemed  to  love  the 
uttermost  limits  of  the  earth  so  much  better  than  his  own 
noble  castles  and  his  proper  home." 

"And  thou  meanest  to  respect  this  vow?" 

"  Luis !  thou  scarce  reflectest  on  thy  words,  or  a  ques 
tion   so  sinful  would  not  be  put  to  me !     What  Christian 
maiden  ever  forgets  her  vows,  whether  of  pilgrimage,  peni 
tence  or  oerformance  —  and  why  should  I  be  the  first  to 
8 


86  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

incur  this  disgraceful  guilt  ?  Besides,  had  I  not  vowed,  the 
simple  wish  of  the  queen,  expressed  in  her  own  royal  per 
son,  would  have  been  enough  to  deter  me  from  wedding 
any.  She  is  my  sovereign,  mistress,  and,  I  might  almost 
say,  mother ;  Dona  Beatriz  herself  scarce  manifesting 
greater  interest  in  my  welfare.  Now,  Luis,  thou  must  listen 
to  my  suit,  although  I  see  thou  art  ready  to  exclaim,  and 
protest,  and  invoke ;  but  I  have  heard  thee  patiently  some 
years,  and  it  is  now  my  turn  to  speak  and  thine  to  listen. 
I  do  think  the  queen  had  thee  in  her  mincj  on  the  occasion 
of  that  vow,  which  was  offered  freely  by  me,  rather  than 
extorted^  as  thou  seemest  to  think,  by  Her  Highness.  I  do 
then  believe  that  Dona  Isabella  supposed  there  might  be  a 
danger  of  my  yielding  to  thy  suit,  and  that  she  had  appre 
hensions  that  one  so  much  given  to  roving,  might  not  bring, 
or  keep,  happiness  in  the  bosom  of  a  family.  But,  Luis, 
if  Her  Highness  hath  not  done  thy  noble,  generous  heart, 
justice ;  if  she  hath  been  deceived  by  appearances,  like 
most  of  those  around  her ;  if  she  hath  not  known  thee,  in 
short,  is  it  not  thine  own  fault  ?  Hast  thou  not  been  a  fre 
quent  truant  from  Castile,  and,  even  when  present,  hast 
thou  been  as  attentive  and  assiduous  in  thy  duties  at  Court, 
as  becometh  thy  high  birth  and  admitted  claims  ?  It  is  true, 
Her  Highness,  and  all  others  who  were  present,  witnessed 
thy  skill  in  the  tourney,  and  in  these  wars  thy  name  hath 
had  frequent  and  honourable  mention  for  prowess  against 
the  Moor ;  but  while  the  female  imagination  yields  ready 
homage  to  this  manliness,  the  female  heart  yearneth  for 
other,  and  gentler,  and  steadier  virtues,  at  the  fireside  and 
in  the  circle  within.  This,  Dona  Isabella  hath  seen,  and 
felt,  and  knoweth,  happy  as  hath  been  her  own  marriage  with 
the  King  of  Aragon  ;  and  is  it  surprising  that  she  hath  felt 
this  concern  for  me  ?  No,  Luis ;  feeling  hath  made  thee 
unjust  to  our  royal  mistress,  whom  it  is  now  manifestly  thy 
interest  to  propitiate,  if  thou  art  sincere  in  thy  avowed 
desire  to  obtain  my  hand." 

"And  how  is  this  to  be  done,  Mercedes?  The  Moor  is 
conquered,  and  I  know  not  that  any  knight  would  meet  me 
to  do  battle  for  thy  favour." 

"  The  queen  wisheth  nothing  of  this  sort  —  neither  do  L 
We  both  know  thee  as  an  accomplished  Christian  knight, 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILP.  87 

already,  and.  as  thou  hast  just  said,  there  is  no  one  to  meet 
thy  lance,  for  no  one  hath  met  with  the  encouragement  to 
justify  the  folly.  It  is  through  this  Colon  that  thou  art  to 
win  the  royal  consent." 

"  I  believe  I  have,  in  part,  conceived  thy  meaning ;  but 
would  fain  hear  thee  speak  more  plainly." 

"  Then  I  will  tell  thee  in  words  as  distinct  as  my  tongue 
can  utter  them,"  rejoined  the  ardent  girl,  the  tint  of  tender 
ness  gradually  deepening  on  her  cheek  to  the  flush  of  a 
holy  enthusiasm,  as  she  proceeded:  "Thou  knowest 
already  the  general  opinions  of  the  Senor  Colon,  and  the 
mode  in  which  he  proposeth  to  effect  his  ends.  I  was  still 
a  child  when  he  first  appeared  in  Castile,  to  urge  the  Court 
to  embark  in  this  great  enterprise,  and  I  can  see  that  Her 
Highness  hath  often  been  disposed  to  yield  her  aid,  when 
the  coldness  of  Don  Fernando,  or  the  narrowness  of  her 
ministers,  hath  diverted  her  mind  from  the  object.  I  think 
she  yet  regardeth  the  scheme  with  favour;  for  it  is  quite 
lately  that  Colon,  who  had  taken  leave  of  us  all,  with 
the  intent  to  quit  Spain  and  seek  elsewhere  for  means, 
was  summoned  to  return,  through  the  influence  of  Fray 
Juan  Perez,  the  ancient  confessor  of  Her  Highness.  He  is 
now  here,  as  thou  hast  seen,  waiting  impatiently  for  an 
audience,  and  it  needeth  only  to  quicken  the  queen's  me 
mory,  to  obtain  for  him  that  favour.  Should  he  get  the 
caravels  he  asketh,  no  doubt  many  of  the  nobles  will  feel  a 
desire  to  share  in  an  enterprise  that  will  confer  lasting 
honour  on  all  concerned,  if  successful ;  and  thou  might'st 
make  one." 

"  I  know  not  how  to  regard  this  solicitude,  Mercedes,  for 
it  seemeth  strange  to  wish  to  urge  those  we  affect  to  value, 
to  enter  on  an  expedition  wnence  they  may  never  return." 

"  God  will  protect  thee !"  answered  the  girl,  her  face 
glowing  with  pious  ardour:  "the  enterprise  will  be  under 
taken  for  his  glory,  and  his  powerful  hand  will  guide  and 
shield  the  caravels." 

Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  smiled,  having  far  less  religious 
faith  and  more  knowledge  of  physical  obstacles  than  his 
mistress.  He  did  full  justice  to  her  motives,  notwithstand 
ing  his  hastily  expressed  doubts ;  and  the  adventure  was 
of  a  nature  to  arouse  his  constitutional  love  of  roving,  and 


88  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

his  desire  for  encountering  dangers.  Both  he  and  Mercedes 
well  knew  that  he  had  fairly  earned  no  small  part  of  that 
distrust  of  his  character,  which  alone  thwarted  their  wishes  ; 
and,  quick  of  intellect,  he  well  understood  the  means  and 
manner  by  which  he  was  to  gain  Dona  Isabella's  consent. 
The  few  doubts  that  he  really  entertained  were  revealed  by 
the  question  that  succeeded. 

''  If  Her  Highness  is  disposed  to  favour  this  Colon,"  he 
asked,  "  why  hath  the  measure  been  so  long  delayed '/" 

"  This  Moorish  war,  an  empty  treasury,  and  the  wary 
coldness  of  the  king,  have  prevented  it." 

"  Might  not  Her  Highness  look  upon  all  the  followers  of 
the  man,  as  so  many  vain  schemers,  should  we  return  with 
out  success,  as  will  most  likely  be  the  case  —  if,  indeed, 
we  ever  return  ?" 

"  Such  is  not  Dona  Isabella's  character.  She  will  enter 
into  this  project,  in  honour  of  God,  if  she  entereth  into  it  at 
all ;  and  she  will  regard  all  who  accompany  Colon  volun 
tarily,  as  so  many  crusaders,  well  entitled  to  her  esteem. 
Thou  wilt  not  return  unsuccessful,  Luis ;  but  with  such 
credit  as  will  cause  thy  wife  to  glory  in  her  choice,  and  to 
»e  proud  of  thy  name." 

"  Thou  art  a  most  dear  enthusiast,  beloved  girl !  If  I 
could  take  thee  with  me,  I  would  embark  in  the  adventure, 
with  no  other  companion." 

A  fitting  reply  was  made  to  this  gallant,  and,  at  the  mo 
ment  certainly,  sincere  speech,  after  which  the  matter  was 
discussed  between  the  two,  with  greater  calmness  and  far 
more  intelligibly.  Don  Luis  succeeded  in  restraining  his 
impatience ;  and  the  generous  confidence  with  which  Mer 
cedes  gradually  got  to  betray  her  interest  in  him,  and  the 
sweet,  holy  earnestness  with  which  she  urged  the  proba 
bility  of  success,  brought  him  at  length  to  view  the  enter 
prise  as  one  of  lofty  objects,  rather  than  as  a  scheme  which 
flattered  his  love  of  adventure. 

Dona  Beatriz  left  the  lovers  alone  for  quite  two  hours, 
the  queen  requiring  her  presence  all  that  time ;  and  soon 
after  she  returned,  her  reckless,  roving,  indiscreet,  but 
noble-hearted  and  manly  nephew,  took  his  leave.  Mer 
cedes  and  her  guardian,  however,  did  not  retire  until  mid 
night  ;  the  former  laying  open  her  whole  heart  to  the  mar- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  gtQ 

chioness,  and  explaining  all  her  hopes  as  they  were  con 
nected  with  the  enterprise  of  Colon.  Dona  Beatriz  was 
both  gratified  and  pained  by  this  confession,  while  she 
smiled  at  the  in-genuity  of  love,  in  coupling  the  great  de 
signs  of  the  Genoese  with  the  gratification  of  its  own 
wishes.  Still  she  was  not  displeased.  Luis  de  Bobadilia 
was  the  son  of  an  only  and  much-beloved  brother,  and  she 
had  transferred  to  her  nephew  most  of  the  affection  she  had 
felt  for  the  father.  All  who  knew  him,  indeed,  were  fond 
of  the  handsome  and  gallant  young  cavalier,  though  the 
prudent  felt  compelled  to  frown  on  his  indiscretions ;  and 
he  might  have  chosen  a  wife,  at  will,  from  among  the  fair 
and  high-born  of  Castile,  with  the  few  occasional  excep 
tions  that  denote  the  circumspection  and  reserve  of  higher 
principles  than  common,  and  a  forethought  that  extends 
beyond  the  usual  considerations  of  marriage.  The  mar 
chioness,  therefore,  was  not  an  unwilling  listener  to  her 
ward ;  and  ere  they  separated  for  the  night,  the  ingenuous 
but  modest  confessions,  the  earnest  eloquence,  and  the  ten 
der  ingenuity,  of  Mercedes,  had  almost  made  a  convert  of 
Dona  Beatriz. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


"Looke  back,  who  list,  unto  the  former  ages, 

And  call  to  count,  what  is  of  ihem  become : 
Where  be  those  learned  wits  and  antique  sages, 
Which  of  all  wisdom  knew  the  perfect  sornme  ? 
Where  those  great  warriors  which  did  overcome 
The  world  with  conquest  of  their  might  and  maine, 
And  made  one  meare  of  th'  earth  and  of  their  raigne." 

Ruins  of  Time. 

Two  01  three  days  had  passed  before  the  Christians  be 
gan  to  feel  at  home  in  the  ancient  seat  of  Mahommedan 
power.  By  that  time,  however,  the  Alhambra  and  the 
town  got  to  be  more  regulated  than  they  were  during  the 

8* 


90     "  MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

hurry,  delight,  and  grief,  of  taking  possession  and  depart 
ing  ;  and  as  the  politic  and  far  from  ill-disposed  Ferdinand 
had  issued  strict  orders  that  the  Moors  should  not  only  be 
treated  with  kindness,  but  with  delicacy,  the  place  gradu 
ally  settled  down  into  tranquillity,  and  men  began  to  fail 
into  their  ancient  habits  and  to  interest  themselves  in  their 
customary  pursuits. 

Don  Fernando  was  much  occupied  with  new  cares,  as  a 
matter  of  course ;  but  his  illustrious  consort,  who  reserved 
herself  for  great  occasions,  exercising  her  ordinary  powers 
in  the  quiet,  gentle  manner  that  became  her  sex  and  native 
disposition,  her  truth  and  piety,  had  already  withdrawn, 
as  far  as  her  high  rank  and  substantial  authority  would 
allow,  from  the  pageantry  and  martial  scenes  of  a  war 
like  court,  and  was  seeking,  with  her  wonted  readiness/ 
the  haunts  of  private  affection,  and  that  intercourse  which 
is  most  congenial  to  the  softer  affections  of  a  woman.  Her 
surviving  children  were  with  her,  and  they  occupied  much 
of  her  maternal  care;  but  she  had  also  many  hours  for 
friendship,  and  for  the  indulgence  of  an  affection  that  ap 
peared  to  include  all  her  subjects  within  the  ties  of  family. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  that  succeeded  the  oven- 
ing  of  the  interview  related  in  the  preceding  chapter,  Dona 
Isabella  had  collected  about  her  person  a  few  of  those  privi 
leged  individuals  who  might  be  said  to  have  the  entree  to  her 
more  private  hours  ;  for  while  that  of  Castile  was  renowned 
among  Christian  courts  for  etiquette,  habits  that  it  had  pro 
bably  derived  from  the  stately  oriental  usages  of  its  Ma- 
homedan  neighbours,  the  affectionate  nature  of  the  queen 
had  cast  a  halo  around  her  own  private  circle,  that  at  once 
rendered  it  graceful  as  well  as  delightful  to  all  who  enjoyed 
the  high  honour  of  entering  it.  At  that  day,  church 
men  enjoyed  a  species  of  exclusive  favour,  mingling  with 
all  the  concerns  of  life,  and  not  unfrequently  controlling 
them.  While  we  are  quick  to  detect  blemishes  of  this  sort 
among  foreign  nations,  and  are  particularly  prone  to  point 
out  the  evils  that  have  flowed  from  the  meddling  of  the 
Romish  divines,  we  verify  the  truth  of  the  venerable  axiom 
that  teaches  us  how  much  easier  it  is  to  see  the  faults  of 
others  than  to  discover  our  own ;  for  no  people  afford 
stronger  evidences  of  the  existence  of  this  control,  than 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  91 

the  people  of  the  United  States,  more  especially  that  por 
tion  of  them  who  dwell  in  places  that  were  originally  set 
tied  by  religionists,  and  which  still  continue  under  the  in 
fluence  of  the  particular  sects  that  first  prevailed ;  and 
perhaps  the  strongest  national  trait  that  exists  ^.mong  us  at 
this  moment,  that  of  a  disposition  to  extend  the  control  of 
society  beyond  the  limits  set  by  the  institutions  and  the 
laws,  under  the  taking  and  plausible  appellation  of  Public 
Opinion,  has  its  origin  in  the  polity  of  churches  of  a  demo 
cratic  character,  that  have  aspired  to  be  an  imperium  in 
imperio,  confirmed  and  strengthened  by  their  modes  of 
government  and  by  provincial  habits.  Be  the  fact  as  it 
may  among  ourselves,  there  is  no  question  of  the  ascend 
ency  of  the  Catholic  priesthood  throughout  Christendom; 
previously  to  the  reformation ;  and  Isabella  was  too  sin 
cerely  devout,  too  unostentatiously  pious,  not  to  allow  them 
every  indulgence  that  comported  with  her  own  sense  of 
right,  and  among  others,  that  of  a  free  access  to  her  pre 
sence,  and  an  influence  on  all  her  measures. 

On  the  occasion  just  named,  among  others  who  were 
present  was  Fernando  de  Talavera,  a  prelate  of  high  sta 
tion,  who  had  just  been  named  to  the  new  dignity  of  Arch 
bishop  of  Granada,  and  the  Fray  Pedro  de  Carrascal,  the 
former  teacher  of  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  an  unbeneficed  divine, 
who  owed  his  favour  to  great  simplicity  of  character,  aided 
by  his  high  birth.  Isabella,  herself,  was  seated  at  a  little 
table,  where  she  was  employed  with  her  needle,  the  subject 
of  her  toil  being  a  task  as  homely  as  a  shirt  for  the  king, 
it  being  a  part  of  her  womanly  propensities  to  acquit  her 
self  of  this  humble  duty,  as  scrupulously  as  if  she  had 
been  the  wife  of  a  common  tradesman  of  her  own  capital. 
This  was  one  of  the  habits  of  the  age,  However,  if  not  a  part 
Df  the  policy  of  princes ;  for  most  travellers  have  seen  the 
celebrated  saddle  of  the  Queen  of  Burgundy,  with  a  place 
arranged  for  the  distaff,  that,  when  its  owner  rode  forth,  she 
might  set  an  example  of  thrift  to  her  admiring  subjects ; 
and  witn  our  own  eyes,  in  these  luxurious  times,  when  few 
private  ladies  even  condescend  to  touch  any  thing  as  useful 
as  the  garment  that  occupied  the  needle  of  Isabella  of  Gas 
tile,  we  have  seen  a  queen,  seated  amid  her  royal  daughters, 
as  diligently  employed  with  the  needle  as  if  her  livelihood 


92  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

depended  on  her  industry.  But  Dona  Isabella  had  no 
affectations.  In  feelings,  speech,  nature,  and  acts,  she  was 
truth  itself;  and  matrimonial  tenderness  gave  her  a  deeply 
felt  pleasure  in  thus  being  occupied  for  a  husband  whom 
she  tenderly  loved  as  a  man,  while  it  was  impossible  she 
could  entirely  conceal  from  herself  all  his  faults  as  a  mon 
arch.  Near  her  sate  the  companion  of  her  girlish  days, 
the  long-tried  and  devoted  Beatriz  de  Cabrera.  Mercedes  oc 
cupied  a  stool,  at  the  feet  of  the  Infanta  Isabella,  while  one 
or  two  other  ladies  of  the  household  were  placed  at  hand, 
with  such  slight  distinctions  of  rank  as  denoted  the  pre 
sence  of  royalty,  but  with  a  domestic  freedom  that  made 
these  observances  graceful  without  rendering  them  fatiguing. 
The  king  himself  was  writing  at  a  table,  in  a  distant  corner 
of  the  vast  apartment ;  and  no  one,  the  newly-created  arch 
bishop  not  excepted,  presumed  to  approach  that  side  of  the 
room.  The  discourse  was  conducted  in  a  tone  a  little  lower 
than  common,  even  the  queen,  whose  voice  was  always 
melody,  modulating  its  tones  in  a  way  not  to  interfere 
with  the  train  of  thought  into  which  her  illustrious  consort 
appeared  to  be  profoundly  plunged.  But,  at  the  precise 
moment  that  we  now  desire  to  present  to  the  reader,  Isa 
bella  had  been  deeply  lost  in  reflection  for  some  time,  and  a 
general  silence  prevailed  in  the  female  circle  around  the 
little  work-tables. 

"  Daughter-Marchioness"  —  for  so  the  queen  usually  ad 
dressed  her  friend — "  Daughter-Marchioness,"  said  Isabella, 
arousing  herself  from  the  long  silence,  "  hath  aught  been 
seen  or  heard  of  late  of  the  Senor  Colon,  the  pilot  who 
hath  so  long  urged  us  on  the  subject  of  this  western 
voyage  ?" 

The  quick,  hurried  glance  of  intelligence  and  gratifica 
tion,  that  passed  between  Mercedes  and  her  guardian,  be 
trayed -the  interest  they  felt  in  this  question,  while  the  latter 
answered,  as  became  her  duty  and  her  respect  for  her  mis 
tress — 

"  You  remember,  Senora,  that  he  was  written  for,  by 
Fray  Juan  Perez,  your  Highness's  ancient  confessor,  who 
journeyed  all  the  way  from  his  convent  of  Santa  Maria  de 
Rabida,  in  Andalusia,  to  intercede  in  his  behalf,  that  his 
great  designs  might  not  be  lost  to  Castile." 


i   •  MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE.  93 

"  Thou  thickest  his  designs,  then,  great,  Daughter  Mar 
chioness  ?" 

"  Can  any  think  them  otherwise,  Senora  ?  They  seem  rea 
sonable  and  natural,  and  if  just,  is  it  not  a  great  and  lauda 
ble  undertaking  to  extend  the  bounds  of  the  church,  and  to 
confer  honour  and  wealth  on  one's  own  country  ?  My  en 
thusiastic  ward,  Mercedes  de  Valverde,  is  so  zealous  in 
behalf  of  this  navigator's  great  project,  that  next  to  her 
duty  to  her  God,  and  her  duty  to  her  sovereigns,  it  seemeth 
to  make  the  great  concern  of  her  life." 

The  queen  turned  a  smiling  face  towards  the  blushing 
girl  who  was  the  subject  of  this  remark,  and  she  gazed  at 
her,  for  an  instant,  with  the  expression  of  affection  that 
was  so  wont  to  illuminate  her  lovely  countenance  when 
dwelling  on  the  features  of  her  own  daughters. 

"Dost  thou  acknowledge  this,  Donna  Mercedes,"  she 
said  :  "  hath  Colon  so  convinced  thee,  that  thou  art  thus 
zealous  in  his  behalf?" 

Mercedes  arose,  respectfully,  when  addressed  by  the 
queen,  and  she  advanced  a  step  or  two  nearer  to  the  royal 
person  before  she  made  any  reply. 

"  It  becometh  me  to  speak  modestly,  in  this  presence," 
said  the  beautiful  girl ;  "  but  I  shall  not  deny  that  I  feel 
deep  concern  for  the  success  of  the  Senor  Colon.  The 
thought  is  so  noble,  Senora,  that  it  were  a  pity  it  should 
not  be  just." 

"  This  is  the  reasoning  of  the  young  and  generous- 
minded  ;  and  I  confess  myself,  Beatrice,  almost  as  childish 
as  any,  on  this  matter,  at  times — Colon,  out  of  question  is 
still  here  ?" 

"  Indeed  he  is,  Senora,"  answered  Mercedes,  eagerly, 
and  with  a  baste  she  immediately  repented,  for  the  inquiry 
was  not  made  directly  to  herself;  "I  know  of  one  who 
hath  seen  him  as  lately  as  the  day  the  troops  took  posses 
sion  of  the  town." 

"  Who  is  that  person  ?"  asked  the  queen,  steadily,  but 
not  severely,  her  eye  having  turned  again  to  the  face  of  the 
girl,  with  an  interest  that  continued  to   increase   as   sh 
gazed. 

Mercedes  now  bitterly  regretted  her  indiscretion,  and,  in 
cpite  of  a  mighty  effort  to  repress  her  feelings,  the  tell-tale 


94  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

blood  mounted  to  her  temples,  ere  she  could  find  resolution 
to  reply. 

"  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  Senora,  the  nephew  of  my 
guardian,  Dona  Beatriz,"  she  at  length  answered ;  for  the 
love  of  truth  was  stronger  in  this  pure-hearted  young  crea 
ture,  even,  than  the  dread  of  shame. 

"  Thou  art  particular,  Senorita,"  Isabella  observed  calmly, 
severity  seldom  entering  into  her  communications  with 
the  just-minded  and  good  ;  "  Don  Luis  cometh  of  too  illus 
trious  a  house  to  need  a  herald  to  proclaim  his  alliances.  It 
is  only  the  obscure  that  the  world  doth  not  trouble  itself 
about.  Daughter-Marchioness,"  relieving  Mercedes  from 
a  state  scarcely  less  painful  than  the  rack,  by  turning  her 
eyes  towards  her  friend,  "  this  nephew  of  thine  is  a  con 
firmed  rover  —  but  I  doubt  if  he  could  be  prevailed  on  to 
undertake  an  expedition  like  this  of  Colon's,  that  hath  in 
view  the  glory  of  God  and  the  benefit  of  the  realm." 

"  Indeed,  Senora" —  Mercedes  repressed  her  zeal  by  a 
sudden  and  triumphant  effort. 

"  Thou  wert  about  to  speak,  Dona  Mercedes,"  gravely 
observed  the  queen. 

"  I  crave  Your  Highness's  forgiveness.  It  was  impro 
perly,  as  your  own  words  were  not  addressed  to  me." 

"This  is  not  the  Court  of  the  Queen % of  Castile,  daugh 
ter,  but  the  private  room  of  Isabella  de  Trastamara,"  said 
the  queen,  willing  to  lessen  the  effect  of  what  had  already 
passed.  "  Thou  hast  the  blood  of  the  Admiral  of  Castile 
in  thy  veins,  and  art  even  akin  to  our  Lord  the  King. 
Speak  freely,  then." 

"  I  know  your  gracious  goodness  to  me,  Senora,  and  had 
nearly  forgotten  myself,  under  its  influence.  All  I  had  to 
say  was,  that  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  desireth  exceedingly 
that  the  Senor  Colon  might  get  the  caravels  he  seeketh,  and 
that  he  himself  might  obtain  the  royal  permission  to  make 
one  among  the  adventurers." 

"  Can  this  be  so,  Beatriz  ?" 

"  Luis  is  a  truant,  Senora,  beyond  a  question,  but  it  is 
not  with  ignoble  motives.  I  have  heard  him  ardently  ex 
press  his  desire  to  be  one  of  Colon's  followers,  should  that 
person  be  sent  by  Your  Highness  in  search  of  the  land  of 
Cathay." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  .  95 

Isabella  made  no  reply,  but  she  laid  her  homely  work  in 
her  lap,  and  sat  musing,  in  pensive  silence,  for  several 
minutes.  During  this  interval,  none  near  her  presumed  to 
speak,  and  Mercedes  retired,  stealthily,  to  her  stool,  at  the 
feet  of  the  Infanta.  At  length  the  queen  arose,  and  cross 
ing  the  room,  she  approached  the  table  where  Don  Fer 
nando  was  still  busily  engaged  with  the  pen.  Here  she 
paused  a  moment,  as  if  unwilling  to  disturb  him  ;  but  soon 
laying  a  hand  kindly  on  his  shoulder,  she  drew  his  atten 
tion  to  herself.  The  king,  as  if  conscious  whence  such 
familiarity  could  alone  proceed,  looked  around  immediately, 
and  rising  from  his  chair,  he  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  These  Moriscoes  need  looking  to,"  he  said,  betraying 
the  direction  that  his  thoughts  had  so  early  taken  towards 
the  increase  of  his  power — "  I  find  we  have  left  Abdal- 
lah  many  strong-holds  in  the  Apulxarras,  that  may  make 
him  a  troublesome  neighbour,  unless  we  can  push  him 
across  the  Mediterranean" — 

"  Of  this,  Fernando,  we  will  converse  on  some  other  op 
portunity,"  interrupted  the  queen,  whose  pure  mind  disliked 
every  thing  that  had  even  an  approach  to  a  breach  of  faith. 
"  It  is  hard  enough  for  those  who  control  the  affairs  of  men 
always  to  obey  God  and  their  own  consciences,  without 
seeking  occasions  to  violate  their  faith.  I  have  come  to 
thee,  on  another  matter.  The  hurry  of  the  times,  and  the 
magnitude  of  our  affairs,  have  caused  us  to  overlook  the 
promise  given  to  Colon,  the  navigator" — 

"  Still  busied  with  thy  needle,  Isabella,  and  for  my  com 
fort,"  observed  the  king,  playing  with  the  shirt  that  his 
royal  consort  had  unconsciously  brought  in  her  hand ; 
"  few  subjects  have  wives  as  considerate  and  kind  as  thou  !" 

"  Thy  comfort  and  happiness  stand  next  to  my  duty  to 
God  and  the  care  of  my  people,"  returned  Isabella,  gratified 
at  the  notice  the  King  of  Aragon  had  taken  of  this  little 
homage  of  her  sex,  even  while  she  suspected  that  it  came 
from  a  wish  to  parry  the  subject  that  was  then  uppermost 
in  her  thoughts.  "  I  would  do  nought  in  this  important 
concern,  without  thy  fullest  approbation,  if  that  may  be 
had ;  and  I  think  it  toucheth  our  royal  words  to  delay  no 
onger  Seven  years  are  a  most  cruel  probation,  and  unless 
we  are  active,  we  shall  have  some  of  the  hot-blooded  young 


96  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

nobles  of  the  kingdom  undertaking  the  matter,  as  their 
holiday  sports." 

"  Thou  say'st  true,  Senora,  and  we  will  refer  the  subject, 
at  once,  to  Fernando  de  Talavera,  yonder,  who  is  of  ap 
proved  discretion,  and  one  to  be  relied  on."  As  the  king 
spoke,  he  beckoned  to  the  individual  named,  who  immedi 
ately  approached  the  royal  pair.  "Archbishop  of  Gra 
nada,"  continued  the  wily  king,  who  had  as  many  politic 
arts  as  a  modern  patriot  intently  bent  on  his  own  ad 
vancement —  "Archbishop  of  Granada,  our  royal  consort 
hath  a  desire  that  this  affair  of  Colon  should  be  immedi 
ately  inquired  into,  and  reported  on  to  ourselves.  It  is  our 
joint  command  that  you,  and  others,  take  the  matter,  before 
the  next  twenty-four  hours  shall  pass,  into  mature  consi 
deration  and  inquiry,  and  that  you  lay  the  result  before 
ourselves.  The  names  of  your  associates  shall  be  given  to 
you  in  the  course  of  the  day." 

While  the  tongue  of  Ferdinand  was  thus  instructing  the 
prelate,  the  latter  read  in  the  expression  of  the  monarch's 
eye,  and  in  the  coldness  of  his  countenance,  a  meaning 
that  his  quick  and  practised  wits  were  not  slow  in  interpret 
ing.  He  signified  his  dutiful  assent,  however ;  received  the 
names  of  his  associates  in  the  commission,  of  whom  Isa 
bella  pointed  out  one  or  two,  and  then  waited  to  join  in  the 
discourse. 

"  This  project  of  Colon's  is  worthy  of  being  more  seri 
ously  inquired  into,"  resumed  the  king,  when  these  prelimi 
naries  were  settled,  "  and  it  shall  be  our  care  to  see  that  he 
hath  all  consideration.  They  tell  me  the  honest  navigator 
is  a  good  Christian." 

"  I  think  him  devoutly  so,  Don  Fernando.  He  hath  a 
purpose,  should  God  prosper  his  present  undertaking,  to 
join  in  a  new  effort  to  regain  the  holy  sepulchre." 

"  Umph  !  Such  designs  may  be  meritorious,  but  ours  is 
the  true  way  to  advance  the  faith ;  this  conquest  of  our 
own.  We  have  raised  the  cross,  my  wife,  where  the  en 
signs  of  infidelity  were  lately  seen,  and  Granada  is  so  near 
Castile  that  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  maintain  our  altars 
Such,  at  least,  are  the  opinions  of  a  layman,  holy  prelate 
on  these  matters." 

"And  most  just  and  wise  opinions  are  they,  Senor," 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE  $1 

returned  the  archbishop.  "  That  which  can  be  retained  it 
is  wisest  to  seek,  for  we  lose  our  labours  in  gaining  things 
that  Providence  hath  placed  so  far  beyond  our  control  that 
they  do  not  seem  designed  for  our  purposes." 

"  There  are  those,  my  Lord  Archbishop,"  observed  tho 
queen,  "  who  might  argue  against  all  attempts  to  recover 
the  holy  sepulchre,  hearing  opinions  like  these,  from  so 
high  authority ! " 

"Then,  Senora,  they  would  misconceive  that  authority," 
the  politic  prelate  hurriedly  replied.  "  It  is  well  for  all 
Christendom,  to  drive  the  Infidels  from  the  Holy  Land  ;  but 
for  Castile  it  is  better  to  dispossess  them  of  Granada.  The 
distinction  is  a  very  plain  one,  as  every  sound  casuist  must 
admit." 

"  This  truth  is  as  evident  to  our  reason,"  added  Per- 
dinand,  casting  a  look  of  calm  exultation  out  at  a  window, 
'*  as  that  yonder  towers  were  once  Abdallah's,  and  that  they 
are  now  our  own  ! " 

"  Better  for  Castile !"  repeated  Isabella,  in  the  tones  of 
one  who  mused.  "  For  her  worldly  power  better,  perhaps, 
but  not  better  for  the  souls  of  those  who  achieve  the  deed — 
surely,  not  better,  for  the  glory  of  God  ! " 

"  My  much-honoured  wife,  and  beloved  consort" — said 
the  king. 

"  Senora" — added  the  prelate. 

But  Isabella  walked  slowly  away,  pondering  on  princi 
ples,  while  the  eyes  of  the  two  worldlings  she  left  behind 
her,  met,  with  the  sort  of  free-masonry  that  is  in  much  re 
quest  among  those  who  are  too  apt  to  substitute  the  expe 
dient  for  the  right.  The  queen  did  not  return  to  her  seat, 
but  she  walked  up  and  down  that  part  of  the  room  which 
the  archbishop  had  left  vacant  when  he  approached  herself 
and  her  husband.  Here  she  remained  alone  for  several 
minutes,  even  Ferdinand  holding  her  in  too  much  reverence 
to  presume  to  disturb  her  meditations,  uninvited.  The  queen 
several  times  cast  glances  at  Mercedes,  and,  at  length,  she 
commanded  her  to  draw  near. 

"  Daughter,"   said   Isabella,  who   frequently    addressed 
those  she  loved  by  this  endearing  term,  "  thou  hast  not  for 
gotten  thy  freely-offered  vow  ?" 
9 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


"Next  to  my  duty  to  God,  Seuora,  I  most  consider  my 
duty  to  my  sovereign." 

Mercedes  spoke  firmly,  and  in  those  tones  that  seldom 
deceive.  Isabella  riveted  her  eyes  on  the  pa)e  features  of 
the  beautiful  girl,  and  when  the  words  just  quoted  were 
uttered,  a  tender  mother  could  not  have  regarded  a  beloved 
child  with  stronger  proofs  of  affection. 

"Thy  duty  to  God  overshadoweth  all  other  feelings, 
daughter,  as  is  just,"  answered  the  queen  ;  "  thy  duty  to 
me  is  secondary  and  inferior.  Still,  thou  and  all  others, 
owe  a  solemn  duty  to  your  sovereign,  and  I  should  be  unfit 
for  the  high  trust  that  I  have  received  from  Providence,  did 
I  permit  any  of  these  obligations  to  lessen.  It  is  not  I  that 
reign  in  Castile,  but  Providence,  through  its  numble  and 
unworthy  instrument.  My  people  are  my  children,  and  I 
often  pray  that  I  may  have  heart  enough  to  hold  them  all. 
If  princes  are  sometimes  obliged  to  frown  on  the  unworthy, 
it  is  but  in  humble  and  distant  imitation  of  that  Power 
which  cannot  smile  on  evil." 

"  I  hope,  Senora,"  said  the  girl,  timidly,  observing  that 
the  queen  paused,  "  I  have  not  been  so  unfortunate  as  to 
displease  you  ;  a  frown  from  Your  Highness  would  indeed 
be  a  calamity  !" 

"Thou?  No,  daughter  ;  I  would  that  all  the  maidens 
of  Castile,  noble  and  simple,  were  of  thy  truth  and  mo- 
.desty,  and  obedience.  But  we  cannot  permit  thee  to  be- 
come  the  victim  of  the  senses.  Thou  art  too  well  taught, 
Dona  Mercedes,  not  to  distinguish  between  that  which  is 
brilliant  and  that  which  is  truly  virtuous"  _ 

"  Senora  !"  cried  Mercedes,  eagerly—  then  checking  her- 
sell,  immediately,  for  she  felt  it  was  a  disrespect  to  inter 
rupt  her  sovereign. 

"  I  listen  to  what  thou  would'st  say,  daughter,"  Isabella 
answered,  after  pausing  for  the  frightened  girl  to  continue. 

fepeak  freely  ;  thou  addressest  a  parent." 
m    "  I  was  about  to  say,  Senora,  that  if  all  that  is  brilliant 
is  not  virtuous,  neither  is  all  that  is  unpleasant  to  the  si^ht, 
<  r  what  prudence  might  condemn,  actually  vicious." 
•    "/  understand  thee>  Senorita,  and  the  remark  hath  truth 
|n  r  ,iV™>  let  us  sPeak  of  other  things.     Thou  appeared 
>  be  friendly  to  the  designs  of  this  navigator,  Cojon  ?" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  99 

"  The  opinion  of  one,  untaught  and  youthful  as  I,  can 
have  little  weight  with  the  Queen  of  Castile,  who  can  ask 
counsel  of  prelates  and  learned  churchmen,  besides  con 
sulting  her  own  wisdom ;"  Mercedes  modestly  answered^ 

"  But  thou  thinkest  well  of  his  project ;  or  have  I  mis 
taken  thy  meaning  ?" 

"  No,  Sefiora,  I  do  think  well  of  Colon's  scheme ;  for  to 
me  it  seemeth  of  that  nobleness  and  grandeur  that  Provi 
dence  would  favour,  for  the  good  of  man  and  the  advance 
ment  of  the  church." 

"And  thou  believest  that  nobles  and  cavaliers  can  oe 
found  willing  to  embark  with  this  obscure  Genoese,  in  his 
bold  undertaking?" 

The  queen  felt  the  hand  that  she  affectionately  held  in 
both  her  own,  tremble,  and  when  she  looked  at  her  com 
panion  she  perceived  that  her  face  was  crimsoned  and  her 
eyes  lowered.  But  the  generous  girl  thought  the  moment 
critical  for  the  fortunes  of  her  lover,  and  she  rallied  all  her 
energies  in  order  to  serve  his  interests. 

"  Sefiora,  I  do,"  she  answered,  with  a  steadiness  that 
both  surprised  and  pleased  the  queen,  who  entered  into  and 
appreciated  all  her  feelings ;  "  I  think  Don  Luis  de  Boba- 
dilla  will  embark  with  him  ;  since  his  aunt  hath  con 
versed  freely  with  him  on  the  nature  and  magnitude  of  the 
enterprise,  his  mind  dwelleth  on  little  else.  He  would  be 
willing  to  furnish  gold  for  the  occasion,  could  his  guardians 
be  made  to  consent." 

"  Which  any  guardian  would  be  very  wrong  to  dp.  We 
may  deal  freely  with  our  own,  but  it  is  forbidden  to  jeopard 
the  goods  of  another.  If  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  persevere 
in  this  intention,  and  act  up  to  his  professions,  I  shall  think 
more  favourably  of  his  character  than  circumstances  have 
hitherto  led  me  to  do." 
"  Senora !" 

"  Hear  me,  daughter ;  we  cannot  now  converse  longer 
on  this  point,  the  council  waiting  my  presence,  and  the  king 
having  already  left  us.  Thy  guardian  and  I  will  confer 
together,  and  thou  shalt  not  be  kept  in  undue  suspense ;  but 
Mercedes  de  Valverde" — 
"  My  Lady  the  Queen" — 


100  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE, 

"  Remember  thy  vow,  daughter.  It  was  freely  giver*,  and 
must  not  be  hastily  forgotten." 

Isabella  now  kissed  the  pale  cheek  of  the  girl,  and  with 
drew,  followed  by  all  the  ladies ;  leaving  the  half-pleased 
and  yet  half-terrified  Mercedes  standing  in  the  centre  of 
the  vast  apartment,  resembling  a  beautiful  statue  of  Doubt. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"He  that  of  such  a  height  hath  built  his  mind, 
And  reared  the  dwelling  of  his  thoughts  so  strong 
As  neither  fear  nor  hope  can  shake  the  frame 
Of  his  resolved  powers." 

DANIEL. 

THE  following  day  the  Alhambra  was  crowded  with 
courtiers  as  usual ;  applicants  for  favours,  those  who  sought 
their  own,  and  those  who  solicited  the  redress  of  imaginary 
wrongs.  The  antechambers  were  thronged,  and  the  dif 
ferent  individuals  in  waiting  jealously  eyed  each  other,  as 
if  to  inquire  how  far  their  neighbours  would  be  likely  to 
thwart  their  several  views  or  to  advance  their  wishes.  Men 
bowed,  in  general,  coldly  and  with  distrust ;  and  the  few 
that  did  directly  pass  their  greetings,  met  with  the  elabo 
rated  civility  that  commonly  characterizes  the  intercourse 
of  palaces. 

While  curiosity  was  active  in  guessing  at  the  business 
of  the  different  individuals  present,  and  whispers,  nods, 
shrugs  of  the  shoulders,  and  meaning  glances,  passed 
among  the  old  stagers,  as  they  communicated  to  each  other 
the  little  they  knew,  or  thought  they  knew,  on  different 
subjects,  there  stood  in  the  corner  of  the  principal  apart 
ment,  one,  in  particular,  who  might  be  distinguished  from 
all  around  him,  by  his  stature,  the  gravity  and  dignity  of 
his  air,  and  the  peculiar  sort  of  notice  that  he  attracted, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  101 

Pew  approached  him,  and  they  that  did,  as  they  turned 
their  backs,  cast  those  glances  of  self-sufficiency  and  ridi 
cule  about  them,  that  characterize  the  vulgar-minded  when 
they  fancy  that  they  are  deriding  or  sneering  in  consonance 
with  popular  opinion.  This  was  Columbus,  who  was  very 
generally  regarded  by  the  multitude  as  a  visionary  schemer, 
and  who  necessarily  shared  in  that  sort  of  contemptuous 
obloquy  that  attaches  itself  to  the  character.  But  even  the 
wit  and  jokes  of  the  crowd  had  been  expended  upon  this 
subject,  and  the  patience  of  those  who  danced  attendance 
was  getting  to  be  exhausted,  when  a  little  stir  at  the  door 
announced  the  approach  of  some  new  courtier.  The  man 
ner  in  which  the  throng  quickly  gave  way,  denoted  the  pre 
sence  of  some  one  of  high  rank,  and  presently  Don  Luis 
de  Bobadilla  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 

"  It  is  the  nephew  of  Her  Highness's  favourite,"  whis 
pered  one. 

"  A  noble  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious  families  of  Cas 
tile,"  said  another ;  "but  a  fitting  associate  of  this  Colon,  as 
neither  the  authority  of  his  guardians,  the  wishes  of  the 
queen,  nor  his  high  station,  can  keep  him  from  the  life  of 
a  vagabond." 

"  One  of  the  best  lances  in  Spain,  if  he  had  the  prudence 
and  wisdom  to  turn  his  skill  to  profit,"  observed  a  third. 

"  That  is  the  youthful  knight  who  hath  so  well  deported 
himself  in  this  last  campaign,"  growled  an  inferior  officer 
of  the  infantry,  "  and  who  unhorsed  Don  Alonso  de  Ojeda 
in  the  tourney ;  but  his  lance  is  as  unsteady  in  its  aim,  as 
it  is  good  in  the  rest.  They  tell  me  he  is  a  rover." 

As  if  purposely  to  justify  this  character,  Luis  looked 
about  him  anxiously  a  moment,  and  then  made  his  way 
directly  to  the  side  of  Colon.  The  smiles,  nods,  shrugs, 
and  half-suppressed  whispers  that  followed,  betrayed  the 
common  feeling ;  but  a  door  on  the  side  of  the  closet  open 
ing,  all  eyes  were  immediately  bent  in  that  direction,  and 
the  little  interruption  just  mentioned  was  as  soon  forgotten. 

"  I  greet  you,  Senor,"  said  Luis,  bowing  respectfully  to 
Columbus.  "  Since  our  discourse  of  last  evening  I  have 
thought  of  little  besides  its  subject,  and  have  come  hither 
to  renew  it." 

That  Columbus  was  pleased  by  this  homage,  appeared  in 
9* 


102  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

his  eye,  his  smile,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  raised  hia 
body,  as  if  full  of  the  grandeur  of  his  own  designs ;  but 
he  was  compelled  to  defer  the  pleasure  that  it  always  gave 
him  to  dilate  on  his  enterprise. 

"  i  am  commanded  hither,  noble  Senor,"  he  answered, 
cordially,  "  by  the  holy  Archbishop  of  Granada,  who,  it 
seemeth,  hath  it  in  charge  from  their  Highnesses,  to  bring 
my  affair  to  a  speedy  issue,  and  who  hath  named  this  very 
morning  for  that  purpose.  We  touch  upon  the  verge  of 
great  events :  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  this  conquest  of 
Granada  will  be  forgotten,  in  the  greater  importance  of  the 
mighty  things  that  God  hath  held  in  reserve !" 

"  By  San  Pedro,  my  new  patron  !  I  do  believe  you,  Se 
nor.  Cathay  must  lie  at  or  near  the  spot  you  have  named, 
and  your  own  eyes  shall  not  see  it,  and  its  gorgeous  stores 
of  wealth,  sooner  than  mine.  Remember  Pedro  de  Munos, 
I  pray  you,  Sefior  Colon." 

"  He  shall  not  be  forgotten,  I  promise  you,  young  lord  ; 
and  all  the  great  deeds  of  your  ancestors  will  be  eclipsed 
by  the  glory  achieved  by  their  son.  But  I  hear  my  name 
called ;  we  will  talk  of  this  anon." 

"  El  Senor  Christoval  Colon !"  was  called  by  one  of  the 
pages,  in  a  loud  authoritative  voice,  and  the  navigator  hur 
ried  forward,  buoyed  up  with  hope  and  joy. 

The  manner  in  which  one  so  generally  regarded  with  in 
difference,  if  not  with  contempt,  had  been  selected  from  all 
that  crowd  of  courtiers,  excited  some  surprise ;  but  as  the 
ordinary  business  of  the  antechamber  went  on,  and  the 
subordinates  of  office  soon  appeared  in  the  rooms,  to  hear 
solicitations  and  answer  questions,  the  affair  was  quickly 
forgotten.  Luis  withdrew  disappointed,  for  he  had  hoped 
to  enjoy  another  long  discourse  with  Columbus,  on  a  sub 
ject  which,  as  it  was  connected  with  his  dearest  hopes,  now 
occupied  most  of  his  thoughts.  We  shall  leave  him,  how 
ever,  and  all  in  the  antechambers,  to  follow  the  great  navi 
gator  farther  into  the  depths  of  the  palace. 

Fernando  de  Talavera  had  not  been  unmindful  of  his 
orders.  Instead,  however,  of  associating  with  this  prelate, 
men  known  to  be  well  disposed  to  listen  to  the  propositions 
of  Columbus,  the  king  and  queen  had  made  the  mistake  of 
choosing  som?  six  or  eight  of  their  courtiers,  persons  of 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  103 

probity  and  of  good  general  characters,  but  who  were  too 
little  accustomed  to  learned  research,  properly  to  appreciate 
the  magnitude  of  the  proposed  discoveries.  Into  the  pre 
sence  of  these  distinguished  nobles  and  churchmen  was 
Columbus  now  ushered,  and  among  them  is  the  reader  to 
suppose  him  seated.  We  pass  over  the  customary  ceremo 
nies  of  the  introduction,  and  proceed  at  once  to  the  material 
part  of  the  narrative.  The  Archbishop  of  Granada  was 
the  principal  speaker  on  the  part  of  the  commissioners. 

"  We  understand,  Senor  Colon,"  continued  the  prelate, 
"  should  you  be  favoured  by  their  Highnesses'  power  and 
authority,  that  you  propose  to  undertake  a  voyage  into  the 
unknown  Atlantic,  in  quest  of  the  land  of  Cathay  and  the 
celebrated  island  of  Cipango  ?" 

"  That  is  my  design,  holy  and  illustrious  prelate.  The 
matter  hath  been  so  often  up  between  the  agents  of  the  two 
sovereigns  and  myself,  that  there  is  little  occasion  to  en 
large  on  my  views." 

"  These  were  fully  discussed  at  Salamanca,  of  a  verity, 
where  many  learned  churchmen  were  of  your  way  of 
thinking,  Senor,  though  more  were  against  it.  Our  Lord 
the  King,  and  our  Lady  the  Queen,  however,  are  disposed 
to  view  the  matter  favourably,  and  this  commission  hath 
been  commanded  that  we  might  arrange  all  previous  prin 
ciples,  and  determine  the  rights  of  the  respective  parties. 
What  force  in  vessels  and  equipments  do  you  demand,  in 
order  to  achieve  the  great  objects  you  expect,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  to  accomplish  ?" 

"You  have  well  spoken,  Lord  Archbishop;  it  will  be  by 
the  blessing  of  God,  and  under  his  especial  care,  that  all 
will  be  done,  for  his  glory  and  worship  are  involved  in  the 
success.  With  so  good  an  ally  of  my  side,  little  worldly 
means  will  be  necessary.  Two  caravels  of  light  burthen 
are  all  I  ask,  with  the  flag  of  the  sovereigns,  and  a  suffi- 
ciency  of  mariners." 

The  commissioners  turned  towards  each  other  in  sur 
prise,  and  while  some  saw  in  the  moderate  request  the  en 
thusiastic  heedlessness  of  a  visionary,  others  detected  the 
steady  reliance  of  faith. 

"  That  is  not  asking  much,  truly,"  observed  the  prelate, 
who  was  among  tta  first;  "and,  though  these  wars  have 


104 


MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


left  us  of  Castile  with  an  exhausted  treasury,  we  could 
compass  that  little  without  the  aid  of  a  miracle.  The  ca 
ravels  might  be  found,  and  the  mariners  levied,  but  there 
are  weighty  points  to  determine  before  we  reach  that  con- 
cession.  You  expect,  Senor,  to  be  intrusted  with  the  com- 
mand  of  the  expedition,  in  your  own  person  ?" 

"  Without  that  confidence  I  could  not  be  answerable  fo/ 
success.  I  ask  the  full  and  complete  authority  of  an  ad 
miral,  or  a  sea-commander,  of  their  Highnesses.  The  force 
employed  will  be  trifling  in  appearance,  but  the  risks  will 
be  great,  and  the  power  of  the  two  crowns  must  completely 
sustain  that  of  him  on  whose  shoulders  will  rest  the  entire 
weight  of  the  responsibility." 

"  This  is  but  just,  and  none  will  gainsay  ft.  But,  Senor, 
have  you  thought  maturely  on  the  advantages  that  are  to 
accrue  to  the  sovereigns,  should  they  sustain  you  in  this 
undertaking?" 

"  Lord  Archbishop,  for  eighteen  years  hath  this  subject 
occupied  my  thoughts,  and  employed  my  studies,  both'  by 
day  and  by  night.  In  the  whole  of  that  long  period  have 
I  done  little  that  hath  not  had  a  direct  bearing  on  the  suc 
cess  of  this  mighty  enterprise.  The  advantages  to  all 
concerned,  that  will  flow  from  it,  have,  therefore,  scarce 
been  forgotten." 

"  Name  them,  Senor." 

"  First,  then,  as  is  due  to  his  all-seeing  and  omnipotent! 
protection,  glory  will  be  given  to  the  Almighty,  by  the 
spreading  of  his  church  and  the  increase  of  his  worship, 
pers."  Fernando  de  Talavera  and  all  the  churchmen  pre 
sent  piously  crossed  themselves,  an  act  in  which  Columbus 
himself  joined.  «  Their  Highnesses,  as  is  meet,  will  reap 
the  next  advantages,  in  the  extension  ©f  their  empire  and 
in  the  increase  of  their  subjects.  Wealth  will  flow  in  upon 
Castile  and  Aragon,  in  a  rapid  stream.,  His  Holiness  freely 
gnmfhg  to  Christian  monarchs  the  thrones  and  territo 
ries  of  all  infidel  princes  whose  possessions  may  be  dis- 
covered,  or  people  converted  to  the  faith,  through  their 
means." 

"  This  is  plausible,  Senor,"  returned  the  prelate,  «  and 
founded  on  just  principles.  His  Holiness  certainly  is  in- 
trusted  with  that  power,  and  hath  been  known  to  use  it,  fov 


MEBCEDE6    OF   CASTILE.  105 

the  glory  of  God.  You  doubtless  know,  Senor  Colon,  that 
Don  John  of  Portugal  hath  paid  great  attention  to  these 
matters  already,  and  that  he  and  his  predecessors  have 
probably  pushed  discovery  to  the  verge  of  its  final  limits. 
His  enterprise  hath  also  obtained  from  Rome  certain  pri 
vileges  that  may  not  be  meddled  with." 

"  I  am  not  ignorant  of  the  Portuguese  enterprise,  holy 
prelate,  nor  of  the  spirit  with  which  Don  John  hath  exer 
cised  his  power.  His  vessels  voyage  along  the  western 
shore  of  Africa,  and  in  a  direction  altogether  different  from 
that  I  propose  to  take.  My  purpose  is  to  launch  forth,  al 
once,  into  the  broad  Atlantic,  and  by  following  the  sun  to 
wards  his  place  of  evening  retirement,  reach  the  eastern 
bounds  of  the  Indies,  by  a  road  that  will  lessen  the  journey 
many  months." 

Although  the  archbishop,  and  most  of  his  coadjutors, 
belonged  to  the  numerous  class  of  those  who  regarded  Co 
lumbus  as  a  brain-heated  visionary,  the  earnest,  but  lofty 
dignity,  with  which  he  thus  simply  touched  upon  his  pro 
jects  ;  the  manner  in  which  he  quietly  smoothed  down  his 
white  locks,  when  he  had  spoken  ;  and  the  enthusiasm  that 
never  failed  to  kindle  in  his  eye,  as  he  dwelt  on  his  noble 
designs,  produced  a  deep  impression  on  all  present,  and 
there  was  a  moment  when  the  general  feeling  was  to  aid 
him  to  the  extent  of  the  common  means.  It  was  a  singular 
and  peculiar  proof  of  the  existence  of  this  transient  feeling 
that  one  of  the  commissioners  immediately  inquired  — 

"Do  you  propose,  Senor  Colon,  to  seek  the  court  of 
Prestor  John?" 

•'  I  know  not,  noble  Senor,  that  such  a  potentate  hath 
even  an  existence,"  answered  Columbus,  whose  notions  had 
got  the  fixed  and  philosophical  bias  that  is  derived  from 
science,  and  who  entered  little  into  the  popular  fallacies  of 
the  day,  though  necessarily  subject  to  much  of  the  igno 
rance  of  the  age  ;  "  I  find  nothing  to  establish  the  truth  of 
there  being  such  a  monarch  at  all,  or  such  territories." 

This  admission  did  not  help  the  navigator's  cause ;  for 
to  affirm  that  the  earth  was  a  sphere,  and  that  Prestor  John 
was  a  creature  of  the  imagination,  was  abandoning  the 
marvellous  to  fall  back  on  demonstration  and  probabilities ; 


106  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

a  course  that  the  human  mind,  in  its  uncultivated  condition, 
is  not  fond  of  taking. 

"  There  are  men  who  will  be  willing  to  put  faith  in  the 
truth  of  Prestor  John's  power  and  territories,"  interrupted 
one  of  the  commissioners,  who  was  indebted  to  his  present 
situation  purely  to  King  Ferdinand's  policy,  "  who  will 
flatly  deny  that  the  earth  is  round ;  since  we  all  know  that 
there  are  kings,  and  territories,  and  Christians,  while  we 
all  see  that  the  earth  and  the  ocean  are  plains." 

This  opinion  was  received  with  an  assenting  smile  by 
most  present,  though  Fernando  de  Talavera  had  doubts  of 
its  justice. 

"  Senor,"  answered  Columbus,  mildly,  "  if  all,  in  this 
world,  was  in  truth  what  it  seemeth,  confessions  would  be 
little  needed,  and  penance  would  be  much  lighter." 

"  I  esteem  you  a  good  Christian,  Senor  Colon,"  observed 
the  archbishop,  sharply. 

"  I  am  such  as  the  grace  of  God,  and  a  weak  nature 
have  made  me,  Lord  Archbishop ;  though  I  humbly  trust 
that  when  I  shall  have  achieved  this  great  end,  that  I  may 
be  deemed  more  worthy  of  the  divine  protection,  as  well  aa 
of  the  divine  favour." 

"  It  hath  been  said  that  thou  deemest  thyself  especially 
set  apart  by  Providence  for  this  work." 

"  I  feel  that  within  me,  holy  prelate,  that  encourageth 
such  a  hope ;  but  I  build  nought  on  mysteries  that  exceed 
my  comprehension." 

It  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether  Columbus  lost  or 
gained  in  the  opinions  of  his  auditors,  by  this  answer.  The 
religious  feeling  of  the  age  was  in  perfect  consonance  with 
the  sentiment ;  but  to  the  churchmen  present  it  seemed  ar 
rogant  in  a  humble  and  unknown  layman,  even  to  believe 
it  possible  that  he  could  be  the  chosen  vessel,  when  so  many 
who  appeared  to  have  higher  claims  were  rejected.  Still, 
no  expression  of  this  feeling  was  permitted,  for  it  was  then 
as  it  is  now,  he  who  seemed  to  rely  on  the  power  of  God 
carrying  with  him  a  weight  and  an  influence  that  ordinarily 
checked  rebukes. 

"  You  propose  to  endeavour  to  reach  Cathay,  by  meana 
of  sailing  forth  into  the  broad  Atlantic,"  resumed  the  arch* 
bishop,  "  and  yet  you  deny  the  existence  of  Prestor  John !" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 


10T 


«  Your  pardon,  holy  prelate  —  I  do  propose  to  reach  Ca 
thay  and  Cipango  in  the  mode  you  mention,  but  I  do  not 
absolutely  deny  the  existence  of  the  monarch  you  have 
named.  For  the  probability  of  the  success  of  my  enter- 
prise,  I  have  already  produced  my  proofs  and  reasons, 
which  have  satisfied  many  learned  churchmen;  but  evi 
dence  is  wanting  to  establish  the  last." 

"  And  yet  Giovanni  di  Montecorvino,  a  pious  bishop  of 
our  holy  church,  is  said  to  have  converted  such  a  prince  to 
the  true  faith,  nearly  two  centuries  since." 

"  The  power  of  God  can  do  any  thing,  Lord  Archbishop, 
and  I  am  not  one  to  question  the  merits  of  his  chosen 
ministers.  All  I  can  answer  to  this  point,  is,  to  say  that  I 
find  no  scientific  or  plausible  reasons  to  justify  me  in  pur 
suing  what  may  prove  to  be  as  deceptive  as  the  light  which 
recedes  before  the  hand  that  would  touch  it.  As  for  Cathay 
and  its  position  and  its  wonders,  we  have  the  better  estab 
lished  evidence  of  the  renowned  Venetians,  Marco  and 
Nicolo  Polo,  who  not  only  travelled  in  those  territories,  but 
sojourned  years  at  the  court  of  their  monarch.  But,  noblo 
gentlemen,  whether  there  is  a  Prestor  John,  or  a  Cathay, 
there  is  certainly  a  limit  to  the  western  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
and  that  limit  I  am  ready  to  seek." 

The  archbishop  betrayed  his  incredulity,  in  the  upward 
turn  of  his  eyes ;  but  having  his  commands  from  those 
who  were  accustomed  to  be  obeyed,  and  knowing  that 
the  theory  of  Columbus  had  been  gravely  heard  and  re 
ported  on,  years  before,  at  Salamanca,  he  determined  pru 
dently  to  keep  within  his  proper  sphere,  and  to  proceed  at 
once  to  that  into  which  it  was  his  duty  to  inquire. 

"  You  have  set  forth  the  advantages  that  you  think  may 
be  derived  to  the  sovereigns,  should  your  project  succeed, 
Seiior,"  he  said,  "  and  truly  they  are  not  light,  if  all  your 
brilliant  hopes  may  be  realized ;  but  it  now  remaineth  to 
know  what  conditions  you  reserve  for  yourself,  as  the  re 
ward  of  all  your  risks  and  many  years  of  anxious  labour." 
"All  that  hath  been  duly  considered,  illustrious  arch 
bishop,  and  you  will  find  the  substance  of  my  wishes  set 
forth  in  this  paper,  though  many  of  the  smaller  provisions 
will  remain  to  be  enumerated." 

As  Columbus  spoke,  he  handed  the  papei  :n  question  fo 


108  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 


Ferdinand  of  Talavera.  The  prelate  ran  his  eyes  over  ii 
hastily  at  first,  but  a  second  lime  with  more  deliberation, 
and  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether  ridicule,  or  indig 
nation,  was  most  strongly  expressed  in  his  countenance,  as 
he  deridingly  threw  the  document  on  a  table.  When  this 
act  of  contempt  was  performed,  he  turned  towards  Colum 
bus,  as  if  to  satisfy  himself  that  the  navigator  was  not  mad. 
"Art  thou  serious  in  demanding  these  terms,  Senor?"  he 
asked  sternly,  and  with  a  look  that  would  have  caused 
most  men,  in  the  humble  station  of  the  applicant,  to  swerve 
from  their  purpose. 

"  Lord  Archbishop,"  answered  Columbus,  with  a  dignity 
that  was  not  easily  disturbed,  "  this  matter  hath  now  occu 
pied  my  mind  quite  eighteen  years.  During  the  whole  of 
this  long  period  I  have  thought  seriously  of  little  else,  and 
it  may  be  said  to  have  engaged  my  mind  sleeping  and 
waking.  I  saw  the  truth  early  and  intensely,  but  every 
day  seems  to  bring  it  brighter  and  brighter  before  my  eyes. 
I  feel  a  reliance  on  success,  that  coineth  from  dependence 
on  God.  I  think  myself  an  agent  chosen  for  the  accom 
plishment  of  great  ends,  and  ends  that  will  not  be  decided 
by  the  success  of  this  one  enterprise.  There  is  more  be 
yond,  and  I  mast  retain  the  dignity  and  the  means  neces 
sary  to  accomplish  it.  I  cannot  abate,  in  the  smallest 
degree,  the  nature  or  the  amount  of  these  conditions." 

Although  the  manner  in  which  these  words  were  uttered 
lent  them  weight,  the  prelate  fancied  that  the  mind  of  the 
navigator  had  got  to  be  unsettled  by  his  Jong  contemplation 
of  a  single  subject.  The  only  things  that  left  any  doubt 
concerning  the  accuracy  of  this  opinion,  were  the  method 
and  science  with  which  he  had  often  maintained,  even  in 
his  own  presence,  the  reasonableness  of  his  geographical 
suppositions ;  arguments  which,  though  they  had  failed  to 
convince  one  bent  on  believing  the  projector  a  visionary, 
had  nevertheless  greatly  puzzled  the  listener.  Still,  the  de 
mands  he  had  just  read,  seemed  so  extravagant,  that,  for  a 
single  instant,  a  sentiment  of  pity  repressed  the  burst  of 
indignation  to  which  he  felt  disposed  to  give  vent. 

"  How  like  ye,  noble  lords,"  he  cried,  sarcastically,  turn 
ing  to  two  or  three  of  his  fellow-commissioners  who  had 
eagerly  seized  the  paper  and  were  endeavouring  to  read  it 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE*  109 

all  at  the  same  moment,  "  the  moderate  and  modest  de 
mands  of  the  Senor  Christoval  Colon,  the  celebrated  navi 
gator  who  confounded  the  Council  of  Salamanca!  Are 
they  not  such  as  it  becometh  their  Highnesses  to  accept  on 
bended  knees,  and  with  many  thanks  1" 

"  Read  them,  Lord  Archbishop,"  exclaimed  several  in  a 
breath  ;  "  let  us  first  know  their  nature." 

"  There  are  many  minor  conditions  that  might  be  granted 
as  unworthy  of  discussion,"  resumed  the  prelate,  taking  the 
paper;  "but  here  are  two  that  must  give  the  sovereign? 
infinite  satisfaction.  The  Senor  Colon  actually  satisfieth 
himself  with  the  rank  of  Admiral  and  Viceroy  over  all  the 
countries  he  may  discover ;  and  as  for  gains,  one-tenth — 
the  church's  share,  my  reverend  brethren  —  yea,  even  one- 
tenth,  one  humble  tenth  of  the  proceeds  and  customs  will 
content  him !" 

The  general  murmur  that  passed  among  the  commis 
sioners,  denoted  a  common  dissatisfaction,  and  at  that  in 
stant  Columbus  had  not  a  true  supporter  in  the  room. 

"  Nor  is  this  all,  illustrious  nobles,  and  holy  priests," 
continued  the  archbishop,  following  up  his  advantage  as 
soon  as  he  believed  his  auditors  ready  to  hear  him  —  "nor 
is  this  all ;  lest  these  high  dignities  should  weary  their 
Highnesses'  shoulders,  and  those  of  their  royal  progeny, 
the  liberal  Genoese  actually  consenteth  to  transmit  them  to 
his  own  posterity,  in  all  time  to  come ;  converting  the  king 
dom  of  Cathay  into  a  realm  for  the  uses  of  the  house  of 
Colon,  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  which,  the  tenth  of  all  tire 
benefits  are  to  be  consigned  to  its  especial  care !" 

There  would  have  been  an  open  laugh  at  this  sally,  had 
not  the  noble  bearing  of  Columbus  checked  its  indulgence  ; 
and  even  Ferdinand  of  Talavera,  under  the  stern  rebuke 
of  an  eye  and  mien  that  carried  with  them  a  grave  au 
thority,  began  to  think  he  had  gone  too  far. 

"  Your  pardon,  Senor  Colon,"  he  immediately  and  more 
courteously  added  ;  "  but  your  conditions  sounded  so  lofty 
that  they  have  quite  taken  me  by  surpiise.  You  cannot 
seriously  mean  to  maintain  them  ?" 

"  Not  one  jot  will  I  abate,  Lord  Priest :  that  much  will 
be  my  due,  and  he  that  consenteth  to  less  than  he  deserveth, 
becometh  an  instrument  of  his  own  humiliation.  I  shall 
10 


110  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILB. 

give  to  the  sovereigns  an  empire  that  will  far  exceed  in 
value  all  their  other  possessions,  and  I  claim  my  reward.  I 
tell  you,  moreover,  reverend  prelate,  that  there  is  much  in 
reserve,  and  that  these  conditions  will  be  needed  to  fulfil 
the  future." 

"  These  are  truly  modest  proposals  for  a  nameless  Ge 
noese  !"  exclaimed  one  of  the  courtiers,  who  had  been  gra 
dually  swelling  with  disgust  and  contempt.  "  The  Senor 
Colon  will  be  certain  of  commanding  in  the  service  of  their 
Highnesses,  and  if  nothing  is  done  he  will  have  that  high 
honour  without  cost ;  whereas,  should  this  most  improbable 
scheme  lead  to  any  benefits,  he  will  become  a  vice-king, 
humbly  contenting  himself  with  the  church's  revenue !" 

This  remark  appeared  to  determine  the  wavering,  and 
the  commissioners  rose,  in  a  body,  as  if  the  matter  were 
thought  to  be  unworthy  of  further  discussion.  With  the 
view  to  preserve  at  least  the  appearance  of  impartiality  and 
discretion,  however,  the  archbishop  turned  once  more  to 
ward  Columbus,  and  now,  certain  of  obtaining  his  ends,  he 
spoke  to  him  in  milder  tones. 

"  For  the  last  time,  Senor,"  he  said,  "  I  ask  if  you  still 
insist  on  these  unheard-of  terms?" 

"  On  them  and  on  no  other,"  said  Columbus,  firmly.  "  I 
know  the  magnitude  of  the  services  I  shall  perform,  and 
will  not  degrade  them,  will  in  no  manner  lessen  their  dig 
nity,  by  accepting  aught  else.  But,  Lord  Archbishop,  and 
you,  too,  noble  Senor,  that  treateth  my  claims  so  lightly,  I 
am  ready  to  add  to  the  risk  of  person,  life  and  name,  that 
of  gold.  I  will  furnish  one-eighth  of  the  needful  sums,  if 
ye  will  increase  my  benefits  in  that  proportion." 

"  Enough  —  enough,"  returned  the  prelate,  preparing  to 
quit  the  room ;  "  we  will  make  our  report  to  the  sovereigns, 
this  instant,  and  thou  shalt  speedily  know  their  pleasure." 

Thus  terminated  the  conference.  The  courtiers  left  the 
room,  conversing  earnestly  among  themselves,  like  men 
who  did  not  care  to  repress  their  indignation ;  while  Co 
lumbus,  filled  with  the  noble  character  of  his  own  designs, 
disappeared  in  another  direction,  with  the  bearing  of  one 
whose  self-respect  was  not  to  be  lessened  by  clamour,  and 
who  appreciated  ignorance  and  narrowness  of  views  too 
justly  to  suffer  them  to  change  his  own  high  purposes. 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  Ill 

Ferdinand  of  Talavera  was  as  good  as  his  word.  He 
Was  the  queen's  confessor,  and,  in  virtue  of  that  holy  office, 
had  at  all  times  access  to  her  presence.  Full  of  the  subject 
of  the  late  interview,  he  took  his  way  directly  to  the  private 
apartments  of  the  queen,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  was 
at  once  admitted.  Isabella  heard  his  representations  with 
mortification  and  regret,  for  she  had  begun  to  set  her  heart 
on  the  sailing  of  this  extraordinary  expedition.  But  the 
influence  of  the  archbishop  was  very  great,  for  his  royal 
penitent  knew  the  sincerity  and  devotedness  of  his  heart. 

"  This  carrieth  presumption  to  insolence,  Senora,"  con 
tinued  the  irritated  churchman :  "  have  we  not  here  a  men 
dicant  adventurer  demanding  honours  and  authority  that 
belong  only  to  God  and  his  anointed,  the  princes  of  the 
earth?  Who  is  this  Colon?  —  a  nameless  Genoese,  without 
rank,  services,  or  modesty,  and  yet  doth  he  carry  his  pre 
tensions  to  a  height  that  might  cause  even  a  Guzman  to 
hesitate." 

"  He  is  a  good  Christian,  holy  prelate,"  Isabella  meekly 
answered,  "  and  seemeth  to  delight  in  the  service  and  glory 
of  God,  and  to  wish  to  favour  the  extension  of  his  visible 
and  Catholic  church." 

"  True,  Senora,  and  yet  may  there  be  deceit  in  this" — 

"  Nay,  Lord  Archbishop,  I  do  not  think  that  deceit  is  the 
man's  failing,  for  franker  speech  and  more  manly  bearing 
it  is  not  usual  to  see,  even  in  the  most  powerful.  He  hath 
solicited  us  for  years,  and  yet  no  act  of  meanness  may  be 
fairly  laid  to  his  charge." 

"  I  shall  not  judge  the  heart  of  this  man  harshly,  Dona 
Isabella,  but  we  may  judge  of  his  actions  and  his  preten 
sions,  and  how  far  they  may  be  suitable  to  the  dignity  of 
the  two  crowns,  freely  and  without  censure.  I  confess  him 
grave,  and  plausible,  and  light  of  neither  discourse  nor 
manner,  virtues  certainly  as  the  world  moveth  in  courts" 
— Isabella  smiled,  but  she  said  nothing,  for  her  ghostly 
counsellor  was  wont  to  rebuke  with  freedom,  and  she  to 
listen  with  humility — "  where  the  age  is  not  exhibiting  its 
purest  models  of  sobriety  of  thought  and  devotion,  but  even 
these  may  exist  without  the  spirit  that  shall  be  fitted  for 
heaven.  But  what  are  gravity  and  decorum,  if  sustained 
by  an  inflated  pride,  and  inordinate  rapacity?  ambition 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 


being  a  term  too  lofty  for  such  a  craving.  Reflect,  Senora, 
on  the  full  nature  of  these  demands.  This  Colon  requireth  to 
be  established,  for  ever,  in  the  high  state  of  a  substitute  for 
a  king,  not  only  for  his  own  person,  but  for  those  of  his 
descendants  throughout  all  time,  with  the  title  and  authority 
of  Admiral  over  all  adjacent  seas,  should  he  discover  any 
of  the  lands  he  so  much  exalts,  before  he  will  consent  to 
enter  into  the  command  of  certain  of  Your  Highnesses'  ves 
sels,  a  station  of  itself  only  too  honourable  for  one  of  so 
little  note !  Should  his  most  extravagant  pretensions  be 
realized  —  and  the  probabilities  are  that  they  will  entirely 
fail  —  his  demands  would  exceed  his  services ;  whereas,  in 
the  case  of  failure,  the  Castilian  and  Aragonese  names 
would  be  covered  with  ridicule,  and  a  sore  disrespect  would 
befal  the  royal  dignity  for  having  been  thus  duped  by  an 
adventurer.  Much  of  the  glory  of  this  late  conquest  would 
be  tarnished,  by  a  mistake  so  unfortunate." 

"Daughter-Marchioness,"  observed  the  queen,  turning 
towards  the  faithful  and  long-tried  friend  who  was  occupied 
with  her  needle  near  her  own  side  —  "  these  conditions  of 
Colon  do,  truly,  seem  to  exceed  the  bounds  of  reason." 

"  The  enterprise  also  exceedeth  all  the  usual  bounds  of 
risks  and  adventures,  Senora,"  was  the  steady  reply  of 
Dona  Beatriz,  as  she  glanced  towards  the  countenance  of 
Mercedes.  "  Noble  efforts  deserve  noble  rewards." 

The  eye  of  Isabella  followed  the  glance  of  her  friend, 
and  it  remained  fixed  for  some  time  on  the  pale  anxious 
features  of  her  favourite's  ward.  The  beautiful  girl  her- 
self  was  unconscious  of  the  attention  she  excited  ;  but  one 
who  knew  her  secret  might  easily  detect  the  intense  feeling 
with  which  she  awaited  the  issue.  The  opinions  of  her 
confessor  had  seemed  so  reasonable,  that  Isabella  was  on 
the  point  of  assenting  to  the  report  of  the  commissioners, 
and  of  abandoning  altogether  the  secret  hopes  and  expecta 
tions  she  had  begun  to  couple  with  the  success  of  the  navi- 
gator^s  schemes,  when  a  gentler  feeling,  one  that  belonged 
peculiarly  to  her  own  feminine  heart,  interposed  to  give  the 
mariner  another  chance.  It  is  seldom  that  woman  is  dead 
to  the  sympathies  connected  with  the  affections,  and  the 
wishes  that  sprang  from  the  love  of  Mercedes  de  Valverde 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  113 

were  the  active  cause  of  the  decision  that  the  Queen  of 
Castile  came  to  at  that  critical  moment. 

"  We  must  be  neither  harsh  nor  hasty  with  this  Genoese, 
Lord  Archbishop,"  she  said,  turning  again  to  the  prelate. 
"  He  hath  the  virtues  of  devoutness  and  fair-dealing,  and 
these  are  qualities  that  sovereigns  learn  to  prize.  His  de 
mands  no  doubt  have  become  somewhat  exaggerated  by 
long  brooding,  in  his  thoughts,  on  a  favourite  and  great 
scheme ;  but  kind  words  and  reason  may  yet  lead  him  to 
more  moderation.  Let  him,  then,  be  tried  with  propositions 
of  our  own,  and  doubtless  his  necessities,  if  not  a  sense  of 
justice,  will  cause  him  to  accept  them.  The  viceroyalty 
doth,  indeed,  exceed  the  usual  policy  of  princes,  and,  as 
you  say,  holy  prelate,  the  tenth  is  the  church's  share  ;  but 
the  admiral's  rank  may  be  fairly  claimed.  Meet  him,  then, 
with  these  moderated  proposals,  and  substitute  a  fifteenth 
for  a  tenth ;  let  him  be  a  viceroy  in  his  own  person, 
during  the  pleasure  of  Don  Fernando  and  myself,  but  let 
him  relinquish  the  claim  for  his  posterity." 

Fernando  de  Talavera  thought  even  these  concessions 
too  considerable,  but,  while  he  exercised  his  sacred  office 
with  a  high  authority,  he  too  well  knew  the  character  of 
Isabella  to  presume  to  dispute  an  order  she  had  once  issued, 
although  it  was  in  her  own  mild  and  feminine  manner. 
After  receiving  a  few  more  instructions,  therefore,  and  ob 
taining  the  counsel  of  the  king,  who  was  at  work  in  an 
adjoining  cabinet,  the  prelate  went  to  execute  this  new  com 
mission. 

Two  or  three  days  now  passed  before  the  subject  was 
finally  disposed  of,  and  Isabella  was  again  seated  in  the 
domestic  circle,  when  admission  was  once  more  demanded 
in  behalf  of  her  confessor.  The  archbishop  entered  with 
a  flushed  face,  and  his  whole  appearance  was  so  disturbed 
that  it  must  have  been  observed  by  the  most  indifferent 
person. 

"How  now,  holy  archbishop," — demanded  Isabella  — 
u  doth  thy  new  flock  vex  thy  spirit,  and  is  it  so  very  hard 
to  deal  with  an  infidel  ?" 

"  'T  is  nought  of  that,  Senora  —  't  is  nought  relating  to 
my  new  people.     I  find  even  the  followers  of  the  false  pro 
phet  more  reasonable  than  some  who  exult  in  Christ's  name 
10* 


114  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

and  favour.  This  Colon  is  a  madman,  and  better  fitted  ta 
become  a  saint  in  Mussulmans'  eyes,  than  even  a  pilot  in 
Your  Highness's  service." 

At  this  burst  of  indignation,  the  queen,  the  Marchioness 
of  Moya,  and  Dona  Mercedes  de  Valverde,  simultaneously 
dropped  their  needle-work,  and  sate  looking  at  the  prelate, 
with  a  common  concern.  They  had  all  hoped  that  the  dif 
ficulties  which  stood  in  the  way  of  a  favourable  termination 
to  the  negotiation  wou  d  be  removed,  and  that  the  time  was 
at  hand,  when  the  being  who,  in  spite  of  the  boldness  and 
unusual  character  of  his  projects,  had  succeeded  in  so  sig' 
nally  commanding  their  respect,  and  in  interesting  their 
feelings,  was  about  to  depart,  and  to  furnish  a  practical  so 
lution  to  problems  that  had  as  much  puzzled  their  reasons 
as  they  had  excited  their  curiosity.  But  here  was  some 
thing  like  a  sudden  and  unlooked-for  termination  to  all  their 
expectations ;  and  while  Mercedes  felt  something  like  des 
pair  chilling  her  heart,  the  queen  and  Dona  Beatriz  were 
both  displeased. 

"Didst  thou  duly  explain  to  the  Senor  Colon,  the  nature 
of  our  proposals,  Lord  Archbishop  ?"  the  former  asked, 
with  more  severity  of  manner  than  she  was  accustomed  to 
betray  ;  "  and  doth  he  still  insist  on  the  pretensions  to  a 
vice-regal  power,  and  on  the  offensive  condition  in  behalf 
of  his  posterity  ?" 

"  Even  so,  Your  Highness ;  were  it  Isabella  of  Cas 
tile  treating  with  Henry  of  England  or  Louis  of  France, 
the  starving  Genoese  could  not  hold  higher  terms  or  more 
inflexible  conditions.  He  abateth  nothing.  The  man 
deemeth  himself  chosen  of  God,  to  answer  certain  ends, 
and  his  language  and  conditions  are  such  as  one  who  felt  a 
holy  impulse  to  his  course,  could  scarcely  feel  warranted  in 
assuming." 

"  This  constancy  hath  its  merit,"  observed  the  queen  ; 
*4  but  there  is  a  limit  to  concession.  I  shall  urge  no  more 
in  the  navigator's  favour,  but  leave  him  to  the  fortune  that 
naturally  folio weth  self-exaltation  and  all  extravagance  of 
demand." 

This  speech  apparently  sealed  the  fate  of  Columbus  in 
Castile.  The  archbishop  was  appeased,  and,  first  holding 
a  short  private  conference  with  his  royal  penitent,  he 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  115 

left  the  room.  Shortly  after,  Christoval  Colon,  as  he 
was  called  by  the  Spaniards — Columbus,  as  he  styled  him 
self  in  later  life  —  received,  for  a  definite  answer,  the  in 
formation  that  his  conditions  were  rejected,  and  that  the 
negotiation  for  the  projected  voyage  to  the  Indies  was 
finally  at  an  end. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"Oh!  ever  thus,  from  childhood's  hour 
I  've  seen  my  fondest  hopes  decay ; 
I  never  loved  a  tree  or  flower, 
But  'twas  the  first  to  fade  away." 

Lalla  Rookh. 

THE  season  had  now  advanced  to  the  first  days  of  Fe 
bruary,  and,  in  that  low  latitude,  the  weather  was  becoming 
genial  and  spring-like.  On  the  morning  succeeding  that 
of  the  interview  just  related,  some  six  or  eight  individuals, 
attracted  by  the  loveliness  of  the  day,  and  induced  morally 
by  a  higher  motive,  were  assembled  before  the  door  of  one 
of  those  low  dwellings  of  Santa  Fe  that  had  been  erected 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  conquering  army.  Most  of 
these  persons  were  grave  Spaniards  of  a  certain  age,  though 
young  Luis  de  Bobadilla  was  also  there,  and  the  tall,  dig 
nified  form  of  Columbus  was  conspicuous  in  the  group. 
The  latter  was  equipped  for  the  road,  and  a  stout,  service 
able  Andalusian  mule  stood  ready  to  receive  its  burthen, 
near  at  hand.  A  charger  was  by  the  side  of  the  mule, 
showing  that  the  rider  of  the  last  was  about  to  have  com 
pany.  Among  the  Spaniards  were  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla, 
the  accountant-general  of  Castile,  a  firm  friend  of  the  navi 
gator,  and  Luis  de  St.  Angel,  the  receiver  of  the  eccle 
siastical  revenues  of  Aragon,  who  was  one  of  the  firmest 
converts  that  Columbus  had  made  to  the  philosophical  ac- 


116  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

curacy  of  his  opinions  and  to  the  truth  of  his  vast  concep 
tions. 

The  two  last  had  been  in  earnest  discourse  with  the  na 
vigator,  but  the  discussion  had  closed,  and  Senior  de  St. 
Angel,  a  man  of  generous  feelings  and  ardent  imagination, 
was  just  expressing  himself  warmly,  in  the  following 
words  — 

"  By  the  lustre  of  the  two  crowns  !"  he  cried,  "  this  ought 
not  to  come  to  pass.  But,  adieu,  Senor  Colon  —  God  have 
you  in  his  holy  keeping,  and  send  you  wiser  and  less  preju 
diced  judges,  hereafter.  The  past  can  only  cause  us  shame 
and  grief,  while  the  future  is  in  the  womb  of  time." 

The  whole  party,  with  the  exception  of  Luis  de  Boba^ 
dilla,  then  took  their  leave.  As  soon  as  the  place  was  clear, 
Columbus  mounted,  and  passed  through  the  thronged 
streets,  attended  by  the  young  noble  on  his  charger.  Not 
a  syllable  was  uttered  by  either,  until  they  were  fairly  on 
the  plain,  though  Columbus  often  sighed,  like  a  man  op 
pressed  with  grief.  Still  his  mien  was  calm,  his  bearing 
dignified,  and  his  eye  lighted  with  that  unquenchable  fire 
which  finds  its  fuel  in  the  soul  within. 

When  fairly  without  the  gates,  Columbus  turned  cour 
teously  to  his  young  companion  and  thanked  him  for  his 
escort ;  but,  with  a  consideration  for  the  other,  that  was 
creditable  to  his  heart,  he  added  — 

"  While  I  am  so  grateful  for  this  honour,  coming  from 
one  so  noble  and  full  of  hopes,  I  must  not  forget  your  own 
character.  Didst  thou  not  remark,  friend  Luis,  as  we  passed 
through  the  streets,  that  divers  Spaniards  pointed  at  me, 
as  the  object  of  scorn  ?" 

"  I  did,  Senor,"  answered  Luis,  his  cheek  glowing  with 
indignation,  "  and  had  it  not  been  that  I  dreaded  your  dis 
pleasure,  I  would  have  trodden  the  vagabonds  beneath  my 
horse's  feet,  failing  of  a  lance  to  spit  them  on !" 

"  Thou  hast  acted  most  wisely  in  showing  forbearance. 
But  these  are  men,  and  their  common  judgment  maketh 
public  opinion  ;  nor  do  I  perceive  that  the  birth,  or  the  op- 
portunities,  causeth  material  distinctions  between  them, 
though  the  manner  of  expression  vary.  There  are  vulgai 
among  the  noble,  and  noble  among  the  lowly.  This  very 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  117 

act  of  kindness  of  thine,  will  find  its  deriders  and  con- 
temners  in  the  court  of  the  two  sovereigns." 

"  Let  him  look  to  it,  who  presumeth  to  speak  lightly  of 
you,  Senor,  to  Luis  de  Bobadilla  !  We  are  not  a  patient 
race,  and  Castilian  blood  is  apt  to  be  hot  blood." 

"  I  should  be  sorry  that  any  man  but  myself  should  draw 
in  my  quarrel.  But,  if  we  take  offence  at  all  who  think 
and  speak  folly,  we  may  pass  our  days  in  harness.  Let 
the  young  nobles  have  their  jest,  if  it  give  them  pleasure — 
but  do  not  let  me  regret  my  friendship  for  thee." 

Luis  promised  fairly,  and  then,  as  if  his  truant  thoughts 
would  revert  to  the  subject  unbidden,  he  hastily  resumed  — 

"  You  speak  of  the  noble  as  of  a  class  different  from 
your  own  —  surely,  Senor  Colon,  thou  art  noble  ?" 

"Would  it  make  aught  different  in  thy  opinions  and 
feelings,  young  man,  were  I  to  answer  no  ?" 

The  cheek  of  Don  Luis  flushed,  and,  for  an  instant,  he 
repented  of  his  remark ;  but  falling  back  on  his  own  frank 
and  generous  nature,  he  answered  immediately,  without 
reservation  or  duplicity — 

"  By  San  Pedro,  my  new  patron  !  I  could  wish  you  were 
noble,  Senor.  if  it  were  merely  for  the  honour  of  the  class. 
There  are  so  many  among  us  who  do  no  credit  to  their 
spurs,  that  we  might  gladly  receive  such  an  acquisition." 

"  This  world  is  made  up  of  changes,  young  Senor,"  re 
turned  Columbus,  smiling.  "The  seasons  undergo  their 
changes ;  night  follows  day ;  comets  come  and  go ;  mon- 
archs  become  subjects,  and  subjects  monarchs ;  nobles  lose 
the  knowledge  of  their  descent,  and  plebeians  rise  to  the 
rank  of  nobles.  There  is  a  tradition  among  us,  that  we 
were  formerly  of  the  privileged  class ;  but  time  and  our 
unlucky  fortune  have  brought  us  down  to  humble  employ 
ments.  Am  I  to  lose  the  honour  of  Don  Luis  de  Boba- 
dilla's  company  in  the  great  voyage,  should  I  be  more  for 
tunate  in  France  than  I  have  been  in  Castile,  because  his 
commander  happeneth  to  have  lost  the  evidences  of  his 
nobility?" 

"  That  would  be  a  most  unworthy  motive,  Senor,  and  I 
hasten  to  correct  your  mistake.  As  we  are  now  about  to 
part  for  some  time,  I  ask  permission  to  lay  bare  my  whole 


118  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE* 

soul  to  you.     I  confess  that  when  first  I  heard  of  this  voy- 
age,  it  struck  me  as  a  madman's  scheme" — 

"Ah  !  friend  Luis,"  interrupted  Columbus,  with  a  melan 
choly  shake  of  the  head,  "  this  is  the  opinion  of  but  too 
many  !  I  fear  Don  Ferdinand  of  Aragon,  as  well  as  that 
etern  prelate,  his  namesake,  who  hath  lately  disposed  of 
the  question,  thinketh  in  the  same  manner." 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  Senor  Colon,  if  I  have  uttered 
aught  to  give  you  pain ;  but  if  I  have  once  done  you  injus 
tice,  I  am  ready  enough  to  expiate  the  wrong,  as  you  will 
quickly  see.  Thinking  thus,  I  entered  into  discourse  with 
you,  with  a  view  to  amuse  myself  with  fancied  ravings ; 
but,  though  no  immediate  change  of  opinion  followed  as  to 
the  truth  of  the  theory,  I  soon  perceived  that  a  great  philo 
sopher  and  profound  reasoner  had  the  matter  in  hand. 
Here  my  judgment  might  have  rested,  and  my  opinion  been 
satisfied,  but  for  a  circumstance  of  deep  moment  to  my. 
self.  You  must  know,  Senor,  though  come  of  the  oldest 
blood  of  Spain,  and  not  without  fair  possessions^  that  I  may 
not  always  have  answered  the  hopes  of  those  who  have 
been  charged  with  the  care  of  my  youth" — 

"  This  is  unnecessary,  noble  sir" — 

"  Nay,  by  St.  Luke  !  it  shall  be  said.  Now,  I  have  two 
great  and  engrossing  passions,  that  sometimes  interfere 
with  each  other.  The  one  is  a  love  for  rambling — a  burn 
ing  desire  to  see  foreign  lands,  and  this,  too,  in  a  free  and 
roving  fashion  —  with  a  disposition  for  the  sea  and  the 
doings  of  havens ;  and  the  other  is  a  love  for  Mercedes  de 
Valverde,  the  fairest,  gentlest,  most  affectionate,  warmest- 
hearted,  and  truest  maiden  of  Castile !" 

"  Noble,  withal,"  put  in  Columbus,  smiling. 

"Senor,"  answered  Luis,  gravely,  "I  jest  not  concern- 
ing  my  guardian  angel.  She  is  not  only  noble,  and  every 
way  fitted  to  honour  my  name,  but  she  hath  the  blood  of 
the  Guzmans,  themselves,  in  her  veins.  But  I  have  lost 
favour  with  others,  if  not  with  my  lovely  mistress,  in  yield 
ing  to  this  rambling  inclination  ;  and  even  my  own  aunt, 
who  is  her  guardian,  hath  not  looked  smilingly  on  my  suit. 
Dona  Isabella,  whose  word  is  law  among  all  the  noble  vir 
gins  of  the  court,  hath  also  her  prejudices,  and  it  hath  be 
come  necessary  to  regain  her  good  opinion,  to  win  the  Dona 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  119 

Mercedes.  It  struck  me" — Luis  was  too  manly  to  betray 
his  mistress  by  confessing  that  the  thought  was  hers  —  "  it 
struck  me,  that  if  my  rambling  tastes  took  the  direction  of 
some  noble  enterprise,  like  this  you  urge,  that  what  hath 
been  a  demerit  might  be  deemed  a  merit  in  the  royal  eyes, 
which  would  be  certain  soon  to  draw  all  other  eyes  after 
them.  With  this  hope,  then,  I  first  entered  into  the  present 
intercourse,  until  the  force  of  your  arguments  hath  com 
pleted  my  conversion,  and  now  no  churchman  hath  more 
faith  in  the  head  of  his  religion,  than  I  have  that  the  shortest 
road  to  Cathay  is  athwart  the  broad  Atlantic ;  or  no  Lom 
bard  is  more  persuaded  that  his  Lombardy  is  flat,  than  I 
feel  convinced  that  this  good  earth  of  ours  is  a  sphere." 

"  Speak  reverently  of  the  ministers  of  the  altar,  young 
Senor,"  said  Columbus,  crossing  himself,  "  for  no  levity 
should  be  used  in  connection  with  their  holy  office.  It 
seemeth,  then,"  he  added,  smiling,  "  I  owe  my  disciple  to 
the  two  potent  agents  of  love  and  reason;  the  former,  as 
most  potent,  overcoming  the  first  obstacles,  and  the  latter 
getting  uppermost  at  the  close  of  the  affair,  as  is  wont  to 
happen — love,  generally,  triumphing  in  the  onset,  and  rea 
son,  last." 

"  I  '11  not  deny  the  potency  of  the  power,  Senor,  for  I  feel 
it  too  deeply  to  rebel  against  it.  You  now  know  my  secret, 
and  when  I  have  made  you  acquainted  with  my  intentions, 
all  will  be  laid  bare.  I  here  solemnly  vow" — Don  Luis 
lifted  his  cap  and  looked  to  heaven,  as  he  spoke — "  to  join 
you  in  this  voyage,  on  due  notice,  sail  from  whence  you 
may,  in  whatever  bark  you  shall  choose,  and  whenever  you 
please.  In  doing  this,  I  trust,  first  to  serve  God  and  his 
church;  secondly,  to  visit  Cathay  and  those  distant  arid 
wonderful  lands ;  and  lastly,  to  win  Dona  Mercedes  de  Val- 
verde." 

"I  accept  the  pledge,  young  sir,"  rejoined  Columbus, 
struck  by  his  earnestness,  and  pleased  with  his  sincerity — 
"  though  it  might  have  been  a  more  faithful  representation 
of  your  thoughts,  had  the  order  of  the  motives  been  re- 
versed." 

"  In  a  few  months  I  shall  be  master  of  my  own  means," 
continued  the  youth,  too  intent  on  his  own  purposes  to  heed 
what  the  navigator  had  said—"  and  then,  nothing  but  the 


130  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

solemn  command  of  Dona  Isabella,  herself,  shall  preven. 
our  having  one  caravel,  at  least ;  and  the  coffers  of  Boba- 
dilla  must  have  been  foully  dealt  by,  during  their  master'* 
childhood,  if  they  do  not  afford  two.  I  am  no  subject  ot 
Don  Fernando's,  but  a  servant  of  the  elder  branch  of  the 
House  of  Trastamara ;  and  the  cold  judgment  of  the  king, 
even,  shall  not  prevent  it." 

"  This  soundeth  generously,  and  thy  sentiments  are  such 
as  become  a  youthful  and  enterprising  noble ;  but  the  offe) 
cannot  be  accepted.  It  would  not  become  Columbus  to  use 
gold  that  came  from  so  confiding  a  spirit  and  so  inexpe 
rienced  a  head ;  and  there  are  still  greater  obstacles  than 
this.  My  enterprise  must  rest  on  the  support  of  some  pow 
erful  prince.  Even  the  Guzman  hath  not  deemed  himself 
of  sufficient  authority  to  uphold  a  scheme  so  large.  Did 
we  make  the  discoveries  without  that  sanction,  we  should 
be  toiling  for  others,  without  security  for  ourselves,  since  the 
Portuguese  or  some  other  monarch  would  wrong  us  of  our 
reward.  That  I  am  destined  to  effect  this  great  work,  I 
feel,  and  it  must  be  done  in  a  manner  suited  to  the  majesty 
of  the  thought  and  to  the  magnitude  of  the  subject.  And, 
here,  Don  Luis,  we  must  part.  Should  my  suit  be  success 
ful  at  the  court  of  France,  thou  shalt  hear  from  me,  for  I 
ask  no  better  than  to  be  sustained  by  hearts  and  hands  like 
thine.  Still,  thou  must  not  mar  thy  fortunes  unheedingly, 
and  I  am  now  a  fallen  man  in  Castile.  It  may  not  serve 
thee  a  good  turn,  to  be  known  to  frequent  my  company  any 
longer — and  I  again  say,  here  we  must  part." 

Luis  de  Bobadilla  protested  his  indifference  to  what 
others  might  think;  but  the  more  experienced  Columbus, 
who  rose  so  high  above  popular  clamour  in  matters  that 
affected  himself,  felt  a  generous  reluctance  to  permit  this 
confiding  youth  to  sacrifice  his  hopes,  to  any  friendly  im 
pressions  in  his  own  favour.  The  leave-taking  was  warm, 
and  the  navigator  felt  a  glow  at  his  heart,  as  he  witnessed 
the  sincere  and  honest  emotions  that  the  young  man  could 
not  repress  at  parting.  They  separated,  however,  about 
half  a  league  from  the  town,  and  each  ben  his  way  in  his 
own  direction  ;  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla's  heart  swelling  w'.th 
indignation  at  the  unworthy  treatment  that  there  was,  in 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  121 

sooth,  so  much  reason  for  thinking  his  new  friend  had 
received. 

Columbus  journeyed  on,  with  very  different  emotions. 
Seven  weary  years  had  he  been  soliciting  the  monarchs 
and  nobles  of  Spain  to  aid  him  in  his  enterprise.  In  that 
long  period,  how  much  of  poverty,  contempt,  ridicule,  and 
even  odium,  had  he  not  patiently  encountered,  rather  than 
abandon  the  slight  hold  that  he  had  obtained  on  a  few  of 
the  more  liberal  and  enlightened  minds  of  the  nation !  He 
had  toiled  for  bread  while  soliciting  the  great  to  aid  them 
selves  in  becoming  still  more  powerful ;  and  each  ray  of 
hope,  however  feeble,  had  been  eagerly  caught  at  with  joy, 
each  disappointment  borne  with  a  constancy  that  none  but 
the  most  exalted  spirit  could  sustain.  But  he  was  now  re 
quired  to  endure  the  most  grievous  of  all  his  pains.  The 
recal  of  Isabella  had  awakened  within  him  a  confidence  to 
which  he  had  long  been  a  stranger ;  and  he  awaited  the 
termination  of  the  siege,  with  the  calm  dignity  that  became 
his  purpose,  no  less  than  his  lofty  philosophy.  The 
hour  of  leisure  had  come,  and  it  produced  a  fatal  destruc 
tion  to  all  his  buoyant  hopes.  He  had  thought  his  motives 
understood,  his  character  appreciated,  and  his  high  objects 
felt;  but  he  now  found  himself  still  regarded  as  a  visionary 
projector,  his  intentions  distrusted,  and  his  promised  ser 
vices  despised.  In  a  word,  the  bright  expectations  that  had 
cheered  his  toil  for  years,  had  vanished  in  a  day,  and 
the  disappointment  was  all  the  greater  for  the  brief  but  de 
lusive  hopes  produced  by  his  recent  favour.* 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that,  when  left  alone  on 
the  highway,  even  the  spirit  of  this  extraordinary  man 
grew  faint  within  him,  and  he  had  to  look  to  the  highest 
power  for  succour.  His  head  dropped  upon  his  breast,  and 
one  of  those  bitter  moments  occurred,  in  which  the  past  and 
the  future  crowd  the  mind,  painfully  as  to  sufferings  en 
dured,  cheerlessly  as  to  hope.  The  time  wasted  in  Spain 
seemed  a  blot  in  his  existence,  and  then  came  the  proba 
bility  of  another  long  and  exhausting  probation,  that,  like 
this,  might  lead  to  nothing.  He  had  already  reached  the 
lustrum  that  would  fill  his  threescore  years,  and  life  seemed 
slipping  from  beneath  him,  while  its  great  object  remained 
unachieved.  Still  the  high  resolution  of  the  man  sustained 
11 


122  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

him.  Not  once  did  he  think  of  a  compromise  ot  what  he 
felt  to  be  his  rights  —  not  once  did  he  doubt  of  the  practi 
cability  of  accomplishing  the  great  enterprise  that  others 
derided.  His  heart  was  full  of  courage  even  while  his  bo 
som  was  full  of  grief.  "  There  is  a  wise,  a  merciful,  and 
omnipotent  God  !"  he  exclaimed,  raising  his  eyes  to  heaven. 
"  He  knoweth  what  is  meet  for  his  own  glory,  and  in  him 
do  I  put  my  trust."  There  was  a  pause,  and  the  eyes  kin 
dled  while  a  scarcely  perceptible  smile  lighted  the  grave 
face,  and  then  were  murmured  the  words — "  Yea,  he  taketh 
his  time,  but  the  infidel  shall  be  enlightened,  and  the  blessed 
sepulchre  redeemed !" 

After  this  burst  of  feeling,  that  grave-looking  man,  whose 
hairs  had  already  become  whitened  to  the  colour  of  snow, 
by  cares,  and  toils,  and  exposures,  pursued  his  way,  with 
the  quiet  dignity  of  one  who  believed  that  he  was  not  cre 
ated  for  nought,  and  who  trusted  in  God  for  the  fulfilment 
of  his  destiny.  If  quivering  sighs  occasionally  broke  out 
of  his  breast,  they  did  not  disturb  the  placidity  of  his  vene 
rable  countenance ;  if  grief  and  disappointment  still  lay 
heavy  on  his  heart,  they  rested  on  a  base  that  was  able  to 
support  them.  Leaving  Columbus  to  follow  the  common 
mule-track  across  the  Vega,  we  will  now  return  to  Santa 
Fe,  where  Ferdinand  arid  Isabella  had  re-established  their 
court,  after  the  few  first  days  that  succeeded  the  taking 
possession  of  their  new  conquest. 

Luis  de  St.  Angel  was  a  man  of  ardent  feelings  and  gene 
rous  impulses.  %  He  was  one  of  those  few  spirits  who  live 
in  advance  of  their  age,  and  who  permitted  his  reason  to 
be  enlightened  and  cheered  by  his  imagination,  though  it 
was  never  dazzled  by  it.  As  he  and  his  friend  Alonzo  de 
Quintanilla,  after  quitting  Columbus,  as  already  related, 
walked  towards  the  royal  pavilion,  they  conversed  freely 
together  concerning  the  man,  his  vast  conceptions,  the 
treatment  he  had  received,  and  the  shame  that  would  alight 
on  Spain  in  consequence,  were  he  suffered  thus  to  depart, 
for  ever.  Blunt  of  speech,  the  receiver  of  the  ecclesiastical 
revenues  did  not  measure  his  terms,  every  syllable  of  which 
found  an  echo  in  the  heart  of  the  accountant-general,  who 
was  an  old  and  fast  friend  of  the  navigator.  In  short,  by 
the  time  they  reached  the  pavilion,  they  had  come  to  the 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  123 

resolution  to  make  one  manly  effort  to  induce  the  queen  to 
yield  to  Columbus's  terms  and  to  recal  him  to  her  presence. 

Isabella  was  always  easy  of  access  to  such  of  her  ser 
vants  as  she  knew  to  be  honest  and  zealous.  The  age  was 
one  of  formality,  and,  in  many  respects,  of  exaggeration, 
while  the  court  was  renowned  for  ceremony  ;  but  the  pure 
spirit  of  the  queen  threw  a  truth  and  a  natural  grace  around 
all  that  depended  on  her,  which  rendered  mere  forms,  except 
as  they  were  connected  with  delicacy  and  propriety,  use 
less,  and  indeed  impracticable.  Both  the  applicants  for  the 
interview,  enjoyed  her  favour,  and  the  request  was  granted 
with  that  simple  directness  that  this  estimable  woman  loved 
to  manifest,  whenever  she  thought  she  was  about  to  oblige 
any  whom  she  esteemed. 

The  queen  was  surrounded  by  the  few  ladies  among 
whom  she  lived  in  private,  as  Luis  de  St.  Angel  and  Alonzo 
de  Quintanilla  entered.  Among  them,  of  course,  were  the 
Marchioness  of  Moya  and  Dona  Mercedes  de  Valverde. 
The  king,  on  this  occasion,  was  in  an  adjoining  closet,  at 
work,  as  usual,  with  his  calculations  and  orders.  Official 
labour  was  Ferdinand's  relaxation,  and  he  seldom  mani 
fested  more  happiness  than  when  clearing  off  a  press  of 
affairs  that  most  men  would  have  found  to  the  last  degree 
burthensome.  He  was  a  hero  in  the  saddle,  a  warrior  at 
the  head  of  armies,  a  sage  in  council,  and  respectable,  if 
not  great,  in  all  things,  but  motives. 

"  What  has  brought  the  Senor  St.  Angel  and  the  Senor 
Quintanilla,  as  suitors,  so  early  to  my  presence?"  asked 
Isabella,  smiling  in  a  way  to  assure  both  that  the  boon 
would  be  asked  of  a  partial  mistress.  "  Ye  are  not  wont 
to  be  beggars,  and  the  hour  is  somewhat  unusual." 

"All  hours  are  suitable,  gracious  lady,  when  one  cometh 
to  confer  and  not  to  seek  favour,"  returned  Luis  de  St. 
Angel,  bluntly.  "  We  are  not  here  to  solicit  for  ourselves, 
but  to  show  Your  Highness  the  manner  in  which  the  crown 
of  Castile  may  be  garnished  with  brighter  jewels  than  any 
it  now  possesseth." 

Isabella  looked  surprised,  both  at  the  words  of  the 
speaker,  and  at  his  hurried  earnestness  as  well  as  his  free 
dom  of  speech.  Accustomed,  however,  to  something  of 


124  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  last,  her  own  calm  manner  was  not  disturbed,  nor  did 
she  even  seem  displeased. 

"  Hath  the  Moor  another  kingdom  of  which  to  be  de 
spoiled,"  she  asked,  "  or  would  the  receiver  of  the  church's 
revenues  have  us  war  upon  the  Holy  See  ?" 

"  I  would  have  Your  Highness  accept  the  boons  that 
come  from  God,  with  alacrity  and  gratitude,  and  not  reject 
them  unthankfully,"  returned  de  St.  Angel,  kissing  the 
queen's  offered  hand  with  a  respect  and  affection  that  neu 
tralized  the  freedom  of  his  words.  "  Do  you  know,  my 
gracious  mistress,  that  the  Senor  Christoval  Colon,  he,  from 
whose  high  projects  we  Spaniards  have  hoped  so  much, 
hath  actually  taken  mule  and  quitted  Santa  Fe  ?" 

"  I  expected  as  much,  Senor,  though  I  was  not  apprized 
that  it  had  actually  come  to  pass.  The  king  and  I  put  the 
matter  into  the  hands  of  the  Archbishop  of  Granada,  with 
other  trusty  counsellors,  and  they  have  found  the  terms  of 
the  Genoese  arrogant ;  so  full  of  exceeding  and  unreason 
able  extravagance,  that  it  ill  befitted  our  dignity,  and  our 
duty  to  ourselves  to  grant  them.  One  who  hath  a  scheme 
of  such  doubtful  results,  ought  to  manifest  moderation  in 
his  preliminaries.  Many  even  believe  the  man  a  visionary." 

"  It  is  unlike  an  unworthy  pretender,  Senora,  to  abandon 
his  hopes  before  he  will  yield  his  dignity.  This  Colon 
feeleth  that  he  is  treating  for  empires,  and  he  negotiates  like 
one  full  of  the  importance  of  his  subject." 

"  He  that  lightly  valueth  himself,  in  matters  of  gravity, 
hath  need  to  expect  that  he  will  not  stand  high  in  the  esti 
mation  of  others,"  put  in  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla. 

"And,  moreover,  my  gracious  and  beloved  mistress," 
added  de  St.  Angel,  without  permitting  Isabella  even  to  an 
swer,  "  the  character  of  the  man,  and  the  value  of  his 
intentions,  may  be  appreciated  by  the  price  he  setteth  on 
his  own  services.  If  he  succeed,  will  not  the  discovery 
eclipse  all  others  that  have  been  made  since  the  creation  of 
the  world  ?  Is  it  nothing  to  circle  the  earth,  to  prove  the 
wisdom  of  God  by  actual  experiment,  to  follow  the  sun  in 
its  daily  track,  and  imitate  the  motions  of  that  glorious 
moving  mass?  And  then  the  benefits  that  will  flow  on 
Castile  and  Aragon — are  they  not  incalculable  1  I  marvel 
that  a  princess  who  hath  shown  so  high  and  rare  a  spirit 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  125 

on  all  other  occasions,  should  shrink  from  so  grand  an  en 
terprise  as  this !" 

"Thou  art  earnest,  my  good  de  St.  Angel,"  returned 
Isabella,  with  a  smile  that  betrayed  no  anger,  "  and  when 
there  is  much  earnestness  there  is  sometimes  much  forget- 
fulness.  If  there  were  honour  and  profit  in  success,  what 
would  there  be  in  failure?  Should  the  king  and  myself 
send  out  this  Colon,  with  a  commission  to  be  our  viceroy, 
for  ever,  over  undiscovered  hnds,  and  no  lands  be  disco 
vered,  the  wisdom  of  our  councils  might  be  called  in  ques 
tion,  and  the  dignity  of  the  two  crowns  would  be  fruitlessly 
and  yet  deeply  committed." 

"  The  hand  of  the  Lord  Archbishop  is  in  this !  This 
prelate  hath  never  been  a  believer  in  the  justice  of  the  na 
vigator's  theories,  and  it  is  easy  to  raise  objections  when 
the  feelings  lean  against  an  enterprise.  No  glory  is  ob 
tained  without  risk.  Look,  Your  Highness,  at  our  neigh 
bours,  the  Portuguese —  how  much  have  discoveries  done 
for  that  kingdom,  and  how  much  more  may  it  do  for  us ! 
We  know,  my  honoured  mistress,  that  the  earth  is  round" — 

"Are  we  quite  certain  of  that  important  fact,  Senor?" 
asked  the  king,  who,  attracted  by  the  animated  and  unusual 
tones  of  the  speaker,  had  left  his  closet,  and  approached 
unseen.  "  Is  that  truth  established  ?  Our  doctors  at  Sala 
manca  were  divided  on  that  great  question,  and,  by  St. 
James  !  I  do  not  see  that  it  is  so  very  clear." 

"  If  not  round,  my  Lord  the  King,"  answered  de  St.  An 
gel,  turning  quickly  to  face  this  new  opponent,  like  a  well- 
drilled  corps  wheeling  into  a  new  front,  "  of  what  form  can 
it  be  1  Will  any  doctor,  come  he  of  Salamanca,  or  come 
he  from  elsewhere,  pretend  that  the  earth  is  a  plain,  and 
that  it  hath  limits,  and  that  one  may  stand  on  these  limits 
and  jump  down  upon  the  sun  as  he  passeth  beneath  at  night 
— is  this  reasonable,  honoured  Senor,  or  is  it  in  conformity 
with  scripture  ?" 

"  Will  any  one,  doctor  of  Salamanca,  or  elsewhere,"  re 
joined  the  king,  gravely,  though  it  was  evident  his  feelings 
were  little  interested  in  the  discussion,  "  allege  that  there 
are  nations  who  for  ever  walk  with  their  heads  downwards, 
where  the  rain  falleth  upwards,  and  where  the  sea  re- 
11* 


126  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

maineth  in  its  bed,  though  its  support  comcth  from  above, 
.and  is  not  placed  beneath?" 

"  It  is  to  explain  these  great  mysteries,  Sefior  Don  Fer 
nando,  my  gracious  master,  that  I  would  have  this  Colon 
at  once  go  forth.  We  may  see,  nay,  we  have  demonstra 
tion,  that  the  earth  is  a  sphere,  and  yet  we  do  not  see  that 
the  waters  fall  from  its  surface  anywhere.  The  hull  of  a 
ship  is  larger  than  her  top-masts,  and  yet  the  last  are  first 
visible  on  the  ocean,  which  proveth  that  the  body  of  the 
vessel  is  concealed  by  the  form  of  the  water.  This  being 
so,  and  all  who  have  voyaged  on  the  ocean  know  it  to  be 
thus,  why  doth  not  the  water  flow  into  a  level,  here,  on  our 
own  shores?  If  the  earth  be  round,  there  must  be  means 
to  encircle  it  by  water,  as  well  as  by  land — to  complete  the 
entire  journey,  as  well  as  to  perform  a  part.  Colon  pro- 
poseth  to  open  the  way  to  this  exploit,  and  the  monarch 
that  shall  furnish  the  means  will  live  in  the  memories  of 
our  descendants,  as  one  far  greater  than  a  conqueror.  Re 
member,  illustrious  Senor,  that  all  the  east  is  peopled  with 
Infidels,  and  that  the  head  of  the  church  freely  bestoweth 
their  lands  on  any  Christian  monarch  that  may  drag  them 
from  their  benighted  condition,  into  the  light  of  God's 
favour.  Believe  me,  Dona  Isabella,  should  another  sove 
reign  grant  the  terms  Colon  requireth,  and  reap  the  advan 
tages  that  are  likely  to  flow  from  such  discoveries,  the  ene 
mies  of  Spain  would  make  the  world  ring  with  their  songs 
of  triumph,  while  the  whole  peninsula  would  mourn  over 
this  unhappy  decision." 

"Whither  hath  the  Senor  Colon  sped?"  demanded  the 
king,  quickly  ;  all  his  political  jealousies  being  momentarily 
aroused  by  the  remarks  of  his  receiver-general :  "  He  hath 
not  gone  again  to  Dom  Joao  of  Portugal  ?" 

"  No,  Senor,  my  master,  but  to  King  Louis  of  France, 
a  sovereign  whose  love  for  Aragon  amounteth  to  a  pro 
verb." 

The  king  muttered  a  few  words  between  his  teeth,  and 
he  paced  the  apartment,  to  and  fro,  with  a  disturbed  man 
ner ;  for,  while  no  man  living  cared  less  to  hazard  his 
means,  without  the  prospect  of  a  certain  return,  the  idea  of 
anothei's  reaping  an  advantage  that  had  been  neglected  by 
himself,  brought  him  at  once  under  the  control  of  those 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  127 

feelings  that  always  influenced  his  cold  and  calculating 
policy.  With  Isabella  the  case  was  different.  Her  pious 
wishes  had  ever  leaned  towards  the  accomplishment  of 
Columbus's  great  project,  and  her  generous  nature  had 
sympathized  deeply  with  the  noble  conception,  vast  moral 
results,  and  the  glory  of  the  enterprise.  Nothing  but  the 
manner  m  which  her  mind,  as  well  as  her  religious  aspira 
tions,  had  been  occupied  by  the  war  in  Granada,  had  pre 
vented  her  from  entering  earlier  into  a  full  examination  of 
the  navigator's  views ;  and  she  had  yielded  to  the  counsel 
of  her  confessor,  in  denying  the  terms  demanded  by  Co 
lumbus,  with  a  reluctance  it  had  not  been  easy  to  over 
come.  Then  the  gentler  feelings  of  her  sex  had  their  in 
fluence,  for,  while  she  too  reflected  on  what  had  just  been 
urged,  her  eye  glanced  around  the  room  and  rested  on 
the  beautiful  face  of  Mercedes,  who  sate  silent  from  diffi 
dence,  but  whose  pale  eloquent  countenance  betrayed  all 
the  pleadings  of  the  pure  enthusiastic  love  of  woman. 

"Daughter-Marchioness,"  asked  the  queen,  turning  as 
usual  to  her  tried  friend,  in  her  doubts,  "  what  thinkest  thou 
of  this  weighty  matter  ?  Ought  we  so  to  humble  ourselves 
as  to  recal  this  haughty  Genoese  ?" 

"  Say  not  haughty,  Seiiora,  for  to  me  he  seemeth  much 
superior  to  any  such  feeling ;  but  rather  regard  him  as  one 
that  hath  a  just  appreciation  of  that  he  hath  in  view.  I 
agree  fully  with  the  receiver-general,  in  thinking  that  Cas 
tile  will  be  much  discredited,  if,  in  sooth,  a  new  world 
should  be  discovered,  and  they  who  favoured  the  enterprise 
could  point  to  this  court,  and  remind  it  that  the  glory  of  the 
event  was  in  its  grasp,  and  that  it  threw  it  away,  heed 
lessly"— 

"And  this,  too,  on  a  mere  point  of  dignity,  Sefiora,"  put 
in  St.  Angel — "  on  a  question  of  parchment  and  of  sound." 

"  Nay,  nay" — retorted  the  queen — "  there  are  those  who 
think  the  honours  claimed  by  Colon  would  far  exceed  the 
service,  even  should  the  latter  equal  all  the  representations 
of  the  Genoese,  himself." 

"  Then,  my  honoured  mistress,  they  know  not  at  what 
the  Genoese  aims.  Reflect,  Senora,  that  it  will  not  be  an 
every-day  deed  to  prove  that  this  earth  is  a  sphere,  by  ac 
tual  measurement,  whatever  we  may  know  in  theories. 


128  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Then  cometh  the  wealth  and  benefits  of  those  eastern  pos 
sessions,  a  quarter  of  the  world  whence  all  riches  flow — 
spices,  pearls,  silks,  and  the  most  precious  metals.  After 
these,  again,  cometh  the  great  glcry  of  God,  which  crowneth 
and  exceedeth  all !" 

Isabella  crossed  herself,  her  cheek  flushed,  her  eye  kin 
dled,  and  her  matronly  but  fine  form  seemed  to  tower  with 
the  majesty  of  the  feelings  that  these  pictures  created. 

"  I  do  fear,  Don  Fernando,"  she  said,  "  that  our  advisers 
have  been  precipitate,  and  that  the  magnitude  of  this  pro 
ject  may  justify  more  than  common  conditions  !" 

But  the  king  entered  little  into  the  generous  emotions  of 
his  royal  consort ;  feeling  far  more  keenly  the  stings  of 
political  jealousy,  than  any  promptings  of  a  liberal  zeal  for 
either  the  church  or  science.  He  was  generally  esteemed 
a  wise  prince,  a  title  that  would  seem  to  infer  neither  a 
generous  nor  a  very  just  one.  He  smiled  at  the  kindling 
enthusiasm  of  his  wife,  but  continued  to  peruse  a  paper 
that  had  just  been  handed  to  him  by  a  secretary. 

"  Your  Highness  feels  as  Dona  Isabella  of  Castile  ought 
to  feel  when  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honour  of  her  crown 
are  in  question,"  added  Beatriz  de  Cabrera,  using  that  free 
dom  of  speech  that  her  royal  mistress  much  encouraged  ir 
their  more  private  intercourse.  "  I  would  rather  hear  you 
utter  the  words  of  recal  to  this  Colon,  than  again  listen  to 
the  shouts  of  our  late  triumph  over  the  Moor." 

"  I  know  that*  thou  lovest  me,  Beatriz  !"  exclaimed  the 
queen  :  "  if  there  is  not  a  true  heart  in  that  breast  of  thine, 
the  fallen  condition  of  man  does  not  suffer  the  gem  to 
exist !" 

"  We  all  love  and  reverence  Your  Highness,"  continued 
de  St.  Angel,  "  and  we  wish  nought  but  your  glory.  Fancy, 
Senora,  the  page  of  history  open,  and  this  great  exploit  of 
the  reduction  of  the  Moor,  succeeded  by  the  still  greater 
deed  of  a  discovery  of  an  easy  and  swift  communication 
with  the  Indies,  the  spread  of  the  church,  and  the  flow  of 
inexhaustible  wealth  into  Spain!  This  Colon  cannot  be 
supported  by  the  colder  and  more  selfish  calculations  of 
man,  but  his  very  enterprise  seeks  the  more  generous  sup 
port  of  her  who  can  risk  much  for  God's  glory  and  the 
good  of  the  church."  '..  f  - 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  129 

"  Nay,  Sen  or  de  St.  Angel,  thou  flatterest  and  offendest 
in  the  same  bieath." 

"  It  is  an  honest  nature  pouring  out  its  disappointment, 
my  beloved  mistress,  and  a  tongue  that  hath  become  bold 
through  much  zeal  for  Your  Highnesses'  fame.  Alas ! 
alas !  should  King  Louis  grant  the  terms  we  have  declined, 
poor  Spain  will  never  lift  her  head  again  for  very  shame  !': 

"Art  certain,  St.  Angel,  that  the  Genoese  hath  gone  for 
France  ?"  suddenly  demanded  the  king,  in  his  sharp  autho 
ritative  voice. 

"  I  have  it,  Your  Highness,  from  his  own  mouth.  Yes, 
yes,  he  is  at  this  moment  striving  to  forget  our  Castilian 
dialect,  and  endeavouring  to  suit  his  tongue  to  the  language 
of  the  Frenchman.  They  are  bigots  and  wnreflecting  disci 
ples  of  musty  prejudices,  Senora,  that  deny  the  theories  of 
Colon.  The  old  philosophers  have  reasoned  in  the  same 
manner ;  and  though  it  may  seem  to  the  timid  an  audacious 
and  even  a  heedless  adventure  to  sail  out  into  the  bioad 
Atlantic,  had  not  the  Portuguese  done  it  he  would  never 
have  found  his  islands.  God's  truth  !  it  maketh  my  blood 
boil,  when  I  bethink  me  of  what  these  Lusitanians  have 
done,  while  we  of  Aragon  and  Castile  have  been  tilting 
with  the  Infidels  for  a  few  valleys  and  mountains,  and  con 
tending  for  a  capital !" 

"  Senor,  you  are  forgetful  of  the  honour  of  the  sove 
reigns,  as  well  as  of  the  service  of  God,"  interrupted  the 
Marchioness  of  Moya,  who  had  the  tact  to  perceive  that 
the  receiver-general  was  losing  sight  of  his  discretion,  in 
the  magnitude  of  his  zeal.  "  This  conquest  is  one  of  the 
victories  of  the  church,  and  will  add  lustre  to  the  two 
crowns,  in  all  future  ages.  The  head  of  the  church,  him 
self,  hath  so  recognized  it,  and  all  good  Christians  should 
acknowledge  its  character." 

"  It  is  not  that  I  undervalue  this  success,  but  that  I  con 
sider  the  conquest  that  Colon  is  likely  to  achieve  over  so 
many  millions,  that  I  have  thus  spoken,  Dona  Beatriz." 

The  marchioness,  whose  spirit  was  as  marked  as  her 
love  for  the  queen,  made  a  sharp  reply,  and,  for  a  few 
minutes,  she  and  Luis  de  St.  Angel,  with  Alonzo  de  Quin- 
tanilla,  maintained  the  discussion,  by  themselves,  while 
Isabella  conversed  apart,  with  her  husband,  no  one  pre- 


130 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


suming  to  meddle  with  their  private  conference.  The  queen 
was  earnest  and  evidently  much  excited,  but  Ferdinand 
maintained  his  customary  coolness  and  caution,  though  his 
manner  was  marked  with  that  profound  respect  which  the 
character  of  Isabella  had  early  inspired,  and  which  she 
succeeded  in  maintaining  throughout  her  married  life.  This 
was  a  picture  familiar  to  the  courtiers,  one  of  the  sove 
reigns  being  as  remarkable  for  his  wily  prudence,  as  was 
the  other  for  her  generous  and  sincere  ardour,  whenever 
impelled  by  a  good  motive.  This  divided  discourse  lasted 
half  an  hour,  the  queen  occasionally  pausing  to  listen  to 
what  was  passing  in  the  other  group,  and  then  recurring  to 
her  own  arguments  with  her  husband. 

At  length,  Isabella  left  the  side  of  Ferdinand,  who  coldly 
resumed  the  perusal  of  a  paper,  and  she  moved  slowly  to 
wards  the  excited  party,  that  was  now  unanimous  and  rather 
loud  in  the  expression  of  its  regrets — loud,  for  even  the  in 
dulgence  of  so  gentle  a  mistress.  Her  intention  to  repress 
this  ardour  by  her  own  presence,  however,  was  momenta 
rily  diverted  from  its  object,  by  a  glimpse  of  the  face  of 
Mercedes,  who  sate  alone,  her  work  lying  neglected  in  her 
lap,  listening  anxiously  to  the  opinions  that  had  drawn  all 
her  companions  to  the  general  circle. 

"  Thou  takest  no  part  in.  this  warm  discussion,  child," 
observed  the  queen,  stopping  before  the  chair  of  our  he 
roine,  and  gazing  an  instant  into  her  eloquently  expressive 
face.  "  Hast  thou  lost  all  interest  in  Colon  ?" 

"  I  speak  riot,  Senora,  because  it  becometh  youth  and 
ignorance  to  be  modest ;  but  though  silent,  I  feel  none  the 
less." 

"And  what  are  thy  feelings,  daughter?  Dost  thou,  too, 
think  the  services  of  the  Genoese  cannot  be  bought  at  too 
high  a  price  ?" 

"  Since  Your  Highness  doth  me  this  honour,"  answered 
the  lovely  girl,  the  blood  gradually  flushing  her  pale  face, 
as  she  warmed  with  the  subject — "  I  will  not  hesitate  to 
speak.  I  do  believe  this  great  enterprise  hath  been  offered 
to  the  sovereigns,  as  a  reward  for  all  that  they  have  done 
and  endured  for  religion  and  the  church.  I  do  think  Colon 
hath  been  guided  to  this  court  by  a  divine  hand,  and,  by  a 
divine  hand  hath  he  been  kept  here,  enduring  the  long  servi- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  131 

tude  of  seven  years,  rather  than  abandon  his  object ;  and 
I  do  think  that  this  late  appeal  in  his  favour  cometh  of  a 
power  ard  spirit  that  should  prevail." 

"  Thou  art  an  enthusiast,  daughter,  more  especially  in 
this  cause,"  returned  the  queen,  smiling  kindly  on  the 
blushing  Mercedes.  "I  am  greatly  moved  by  thy  wishes 
to  aid  in  this  enterprise  !" 

Thus  spoke  Isabella,  at  a  moment  when  she  had  neither 
the  leisure  nor  the  thought  to  analyze  her  own  feelings, 
which  were  influenced  by  a  variety  of  motives,  rather  than 
by  any  single  consideration.  Even  this  passing  touch  of 
woman's  affections,  however,  contributed  to  give  her  mind 
a  new  bias,  and  she  joined  the  group,  which  respectfully 
opened  as  she  advanced,  greatly  disposed  to  yield  to  de  St. 
An  gel's,  well- meant  though  somewhat  intemperate  entreaties. 
Still  she  hesitated,  for  her  wary  husband  had  just  been  re 
minding  her  of  the  exhausted  state  of  the  two  treasuries, 
and  the  impoverished  condition  in  which  both  crowns  had 
been  left  by  the  late  war. 

"  Daughter-Marchioness,"  said  Isabella,  slightly  answer 
ing  the  reverences  of  the  circle,  "  dost  thou  still  think  this 
Colon  expressly  called  of  God,  for  the  high  purposes  to 
which  he  pretendeth  ?" 

"  Senora,  I  say  not  exactly  that,  though  I  believe  the 
Genoese  hath  some  such  opinion  of  himself.  But  this  much 
I  do  think  —  that  Heaven  beareth  in  mind  its  faithful  servi 
tors,  and  when  there  is  need  of  important  actions,  suitable 
agents  are  chosen  for  the  work.  Now,  we  do  know  that 
the  church,  at  some  day,  is  to  prevail  throughout  the  whole 
world ;  and  why  may  not  this  be  the  allotted  time,  as  well 
as  another  ?  God  ordereth  mysteriously,  and  the  very  ad 
venture  that  so  many  of  the  learned  have  scoffed  at,  may 
be  intended  to  hasten  the  victory  of  the  church.  We  should 
remember,  Your  Highness,  the  humility  with  which  this 
church  commenced  ;  how  few  cf  the  seemingly  wise  lent  it 
their  aid;  and  the  high  pass  of  glory  to  which  it  hath 
reached.  This  conquest  of  the  Moor  savoureth  of  a  fulfil 
ment  of  time,  and  his  reign  of  seven  centuries  terminated, 
may  merely  be  an  opening  for  a  more  glorious  future." 

Isabella  smiled  upon  her  friend,  for  this  was  reasoning 
after  her  own  secret  thoughts;  but  her  greater  acquire- 


1«32  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

ments  rendered  her  more  discriminating  in  her  zeal,  than 
was  the  case  with  the  warm-hearted  and  ardent  Mar- 
chioness. 

"  It  is  not  safe  to  affix  the  seal  of  Providence  to  this  or 
that  enterprise,  Daughter-Marchioness" — she  answered  — 
"  and  the  church  alone  may  say  what  are  intended  for 
miracles,  and  what  is  left  for  human  agencies.  What  sum 
doth  Colon  need,  Senor  de  St.  Angel,  to  carry  on  the  ad 
venture  in  a  manner  that  will  content  him  ?" 

"  He  asketh  but  two  light  caravels,  my  honoured  mis 
tress,  and  three  thousand  crowns  —  a  sum  that  many  a 
young  spendthrift  would  waste  on  his  pleasures,  in  a  few 
short  weeks." 

"It  is  not  much,  truly,"  observed  Isabella,  who  had  been 
gradually  kindling  with  the  thoughts  of  the  nobleness  of 
the  adventure ;  "  but,  small  as  it  is,  my  Lord  the  King 
doubteth  if  our  joint  coffers  can,  at  this  moment,  well  bear 
the  drain." 

"  Oh  !  it  were  a  pity  that  such  an  occasion  to  serve  God, 
such  an  opportunity  to  increase  the  Christian  sway,  and  to 
add  to  the  glory  of  Spain,  should  be  lost  for  this  trifle  of 
gold  !"  exclaimed  Dona  Beatriz. 

"  It  would  be,  truly,"  rejoined  the  queen,  whose  cheek 
now  glowed  with  an  enthusiasm  little  less  obvious  than  that 
which  shone  so  brightly  in  the  countenance  of  the  ardent 
Mercedes.  "  Senor  de  St.  Angel,  the  king  cannot  be  pre 
vailed  on  to  enter  into  this  affair,  in  behalf  of  Aragon ;  but 
I  take  it  on  myself,  as  Queen  of  Castile,  and,  so  far  as  it 
may  properly  advance  human  interests,  for  the  benefit  of 
my  own  much-beloved  people.  If  the  royal  treasury  be 
drained,  my  private  jewels  should  suffice  for  that  small 
sum,  and  I  will  freely  pledge  them  as  surety  for  the  gold, 
rather  than  let  this  Colon  depart  without  putting  the  truth 
of  his  theories  to  the  proof.  The  result,  truly,  is  of  too 
great  magnitude,  to  admit  of  further  discussion." 

An  exclamation  of  admiration  and  delight  escaped  those 
present,  for  it  was  not  a  usual  thing  for  a  princess  to  de 
prive  herself  of  personal  ornaments  in  order  to  advance 
either  the  interests  of  the  church  or  those  of  her  subjects. 
The  receiver-general,  however,  soon  removed  all  difficul 
ties  on  the  score  of  money,  by  saying  that  his  coffers 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  133 

could  advance  the  required  sum,  on  the  guarantee  of  the 
crown  of  Castile,  and  that  the  jewels  so  freely  offered, 
might  remain  in  the  keeping  of  their  royal  owner. 

"And  now  to  recal  Colon,"  observed  the  queen,  as  soon 
as  these  preliminaries  had  been  discussed.  "  He  hath 
already  departed,  you  say,  and  no  time  should  be  lost  in 
acquainting  him  with  this  new  resolution." 

"  Your  Highness  hath  here  a  willing  courier,  and  one 
already  equipped  for  the  road,  in  the  person  of  Don  Luis 
de  Bobadilla,"  cried  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla,  whose  eye  had 
been  drawn  to  a  window  by  the  trampling  of  a  horse's 
foot ;  "  and  the  man  who  will  more  joyfully  bear  these 
tidings  to  the  Genoese,  cannot  be  found  in  Santa  Fe." 

"  T  is  scarce  a  service  suited  to  one  of  his  high  station," 
answered  Isabella,  doubtingly  ;  "  and  yet  we  should  con 
sider  every  moment  of  delay  a  wrong  to  Colon" — 

"  Nay,  Senora,  spare  not  my  nephew,"  eagerly  inter- 
posed  Dofia  Beatrix;  "  he  is  only  too  happy  at  being  em 
ployed  in  doing  Your  Highness's  pleasure." 

"  Let  him,  then,  be  summoned  to  our  presence,  without 
another  instant's  delay.  I  scarce  seem  to  have  decided, 
while  the  principal  personage  of  the  great  adventure  is 
journeying  from  the  court." 

A  page  was  immediately  dispatched  in  quest  of  the  young 
noble,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  footsteps  of  the  latter  were 
heard  in  the  antechamber.  Luis  entered  the  presence, 
flushed,  excited,  and  with  feelings 'not  a  little  angered,  at 
the  compelled  departure  of  his  new  friend.  He  did  not  fail 
to  impute  the  blame  of  this  occurrence  to  those  who  had 
the  power  to  prevent  it ;  and  when  his  dark  expressive  eye 
met  the  countenance  of  his  sovereign,  had  it  been  in  her 
power  to  read  its  meaning,  she  would  have  understood  that 
he  viewed  her  as  a  person  who  had  thwarted  his  hopes  on 
more  than  one  occasion.  Nevertheless,  the  influence  of  Dona 
Isabella's  pure  character  and  gentle  manners  was  seldom 
forgotten  by  any  who  were  permitted  to  approach  her  per 
son  ;  and  his  address  was  respectful,  if  not  warm. 

"  It  is  Your  Highness's  pleasure  to  command  my  pre 
sence,"  said  the  young  man,  as  soon  as  he  made  his  reve 
rences  to  the  queen. 

I  thank  you  for  this  promptitude,  Don  Luis,  having 
12 


134  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

some  need  of  your  services.  Can  you  tell  us  what  hath 
befel  the  Senor  Christoval  Colon,  the  Genoese  navigator, 
with  whom,  they  inform  me,  you  have  some  intimacy  ?" 

"  Forgive  me,  Senora,  if  aught  unbecoming  escape  me  ; 
but  a  full  heart  must  be  opened  lest  it  break.  The  Genoese 
is  about  to  shake  the  dust  of  Spain  from  his  shoes,  and,  at 
this  moment,  is  on  his  journey  to  another  court,  to  proffer 
those  services  that  this  should  never  have  rejected." 

"  It  is  plain,  Don  Luis,  that  all  thy  leisure  time  hath  not 
been  passed  in  courts,"  returned  the  queen,  smiling ;  "  but 
we  have  now  service  for  thy  roving  propensities.  Mount 
thy  steed,  and  pursue  the  Senor  Colon,  with  the  tidings  that 
his  conditions  will  be  granted,  and  a  request  that  he  will 
forthwith  return.  I  pledge  my  royal  word,  to  send  him 
forth  on  this  enterprise,  with  as  little*  delay  as  the  necessary 
preparations  and  a  suitable  prudence  will  allow." 

"  Senora  ! — Dona  Isabella  ! — My  gracious  queen  ! — Do  I 
hear  aright?" 

"As  a  sign  of  the  fidelity  of  thy  senses,  Don  Luis, 
here  is  the  pledge  of  my  hand." 

This  was  said  kindly,  and  the  gracious  manner  in  which 
the  hand  was  offered,  brought  a  gleam  of  hope  to  the  mind 
of  the  lover,  which  it  had  not  felt  since  he  had  been  apprized 
that  the  queen's  good  opinion  was  necessary  to  secure  his 
happiness.  Kneeling  respectfully,  he  kissed  the  hand  of 
his  sovereign,  after  whi^h,  without  changing  his  attitude, 
he  desired  to  know  if  he  should  that  instant  depart  on  the 
duty  she  had  named. 

"  Rise,  Don  Luis,  and  lose  not  a  moment  to  relieve  the 
loaded  heart  of  the  Genoese— I  might  almost  say,  to  relieve 
ours,  also ;  for,  Daughter-Marchioness,  since  this  holy  en 
terprise  hath  broken  on  my  mind  with  a  sudden  and  almost 
miraculous  light,  it  seemeth  that  a  mountain  must  lie  on  rny 
breast  until  the  Senor  Christoval  shall  learn  the  truth !" 

Luis  de  Bobadilla  did  not  wait  a  second  bidding,  but  hur 
ried  from  the  presence,  as  fast  as  etiquette  would  allow,  and 
the  next  minute  he  was  in  the  saddle.  At  his  appearance, 
Mercedes  had  shrunk  into  the  recess  of  a  window,  where 
she  now,  luckily,  commanded  a  view  of  the  court.  As  her 
lover  gained  his  seat,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  form ; 
and  though  the  spurs  were  already  in  his  charger's  flanks, 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  135 

the  rein  tightened,  and  the  snorting  steed  was  thrown  sud 
denly  on  his  haunches.  So  elastic  are  the  feelings  of 
youth,  so  deceptive  and  flattering  the  hopes  of  those  who 
love,  that  the  glances  which  were  exchanged  were  those 
of  mutual  delight.  Neither  thought  of  all  the  desperate 
chances  of  the  contemplated  voyage ;  of  the  probability  of 
its  want  of  success ;  or  of  the  many  motives  which  might 
still  induce  the  queen  to  withhold  her  consent.  Mercedes 
awoke  first  from  the  short  trance  that  succeeded,  for,  taking 
the  alarm  at  Luis's  indiscreet  delay,  she  motioned  him  hur 
riedly  to  proceed.  Again  the  rowels  were  buried  in  the 
flanks  of  the  noble  animal;  fire  flashed  beneath  his  armed 
heels,  and,  at  the  next  minute,  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  had 
disappeared. 

In  the  mean  time,  Columbus  had  pursued  his  melancholy 
journey  across  the  Vega.  He  travelled  slowly,  and  several 
times,  even  after  his  companion  had  left  him,  did  he  check 
his  mule,  and  sit,  with  his  head  dropped  upon  his  breast, 
lost  in  thought,  the  very  picture  of  woe.  The  nobie  re 
signation  that  he  manifested  in  public,  nearly  gave  way  in 
private,  and  he  felt,  indeed,  how  hard  his  disappointments 
were  to  be  borne.  In  this  desultory  manner  of  travelling 
he  had  reached  the  celebrated  pass  of  the  bridge  of  Pinos, 
the  scene  of  many  a  sanguinary  combat,  when  the  sound 
of  a  horse's  hoofs  first  overtook  his  ear.  Turning  his  head, 
he  recognized  Luis  de  Bobadilla  in  hot  pursuit,  with  the 
flanks  of  his  horse  dyed  in  blood,  and  his  breast  white  with 
foam. 

"  Joy  !  joy !  a  thousand  times,  joy,  Sefior  Colon !" 
shouted  the  eager  youth,  even  before  he  was  near  enough 
to  be  distinctly  heard.  "  Blessed  Maria  be  praised  !  Joy  ! 
Seiior,  joy  !  and  nought  but  joy  !" 

"  This  is  unexpected,  Don  Luis,"  exclaimed  the  navi 
gator.  "  What  meaneth  thy  return  ?" 

Luis  now  attempted  to  explain  his  errand,  but  eagerness 
and  the  want  of  breath  rendered  his  ideas  confused  and  his 
utterance  broken  and  imperfect. 

"And  why  should  I  return  to  a  hesitating,  cold,  and  un 
decided  court  ?"  demanded  Columbus.  "  Have  I  not  wasted 
years  in  striving  to  urge  it  to  its  own  good  ?  Look  at  these 
hairs,  young  Senor,  and  remember  that  I  have  lost  a  time 


136  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

that  nearly  equals  all  thy  days,  in  striving  uselessly  to  con 
vince  the  rulers  of  this  peninsula  that  my  project  is  founded 
on  truth." 

"At  length  you  have  succeeded.  Isabella,  the  true- 
hearted  and  never-deceiving  Queen  of  Castile,  herself,  hath 
awoke  to  the  importance  of  thy  scheme,  and  pledges  her 
royal  word  to  favour  it." 

"  Is  this  true  1     Can  this  be  true,  Don  Luis  ?" 

"  I  am  sent  to  you  express,  Senor,  to  urge  your  imme 
diate  return." 

"  By  whom,  young  Lord?" 

"  By  Dona  Isabella,  my  gracious  mistress,  through  her 
own  personal  commands." 

"  I  cannot  forego  a  single  condition  already  offered." 

"  It  is  not  expected,  Senor.  Our  excellent  and  generous 
mistress  granteth  all  you  ask,  and  hath  nobly  offered,  as  I 
learn,  to  pledge  her  private  jewels,  rather  than  that  the  en 
terprise  fail." 

Columbus  was.  deeply  touched  with  this  information,  and 
removing  his  cap,  he  concealed  his  face  with  it,  for  a  mo 
ment,  as  if  ashamed  to  betray  the  weakness  that  came  over 
him.  When  he  uncovered  his  face  it  was  radiant  with 
happiness,  and  every  doubt  appeared  to  have  vanished. 
Years  of  suffering  were  forgotten  in  that  moment  of  joy, 
and  he  immediately  signified  his  readiness  to  accompany 
the  youth  back  to  Santa  Fe. 


[EKCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  137 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"How  beautiful  is  genius  when  combined 
With  holiness  !     Oh !  how  divinely  sweet 
The  tones  of  earthly  harp,  whose  chords  are  touch'd 
By  the  soft  hand  of  Piety,  and  hung 
Upon  Religion's  shrine,  there  vibrating 
With  solemn  music  in  the  ear  of  God!" 

JOHN  WILSON. 

COLUMBUS  was  received  by  his  friends  Luis  de  St.  Angel 
and  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla,  with  a  gratification  they  found 
it  difficult  to  express.  They  were  loud  in  their  eulogiums 
on  Isabella,  and  added  to  the  assurances  of  Don  Luis,  such 
proofs  of  the  seriousness  of  the  queen's  intentions,  as  to 
remove  all  doubts  from  the  mind  of  the  navigator.  He  was 
then,  without  further  delay,  conducted  to  the  presence. 

"  Senor  Colon,"  said  Isabella,  as  the  Genoese  advanced 
and  knelt  at  her  feet,  "  you  are  welcome  back,  again.  All 
our  misunderstandings  are  finally  removed,  and  henceforth, 
I  trust  that  we  shall  act  cheerfully  and  unitedly  to  produce 
the  same  great  end.  Rise,  Sefior,  and  receive  this  as  a 
gage  of  my  support  and  friendship." 

Columbus  saluted  the  offered  hand,  and  arose  from  his 
knees.  At  that  instant,  there  was  probably  no  one  present 
whose  feelings  were  not  raised  to  the  buoyancy  of  hope  ; 
for  it  was  a  peculiarity  connected  with  the  origin  and  exe 
cution  of  this  great  enterprise,  that  after  having  been  urged 
for  so  long  a  period,  amid  sneers,  and  doubts,  and  ridicule, 
it  was  at  first  adopted  with  something  very  like  enthusiasm. 

"  Senora,"  returned  Columbus,  whose  grave  aspect  and 
noble  mien  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  advancement  of 
his  views — "  Senora,  my  heart  thanks  you  for  this  kind 
ness — so  welcome  because  so  little  hoped  for,  this  morning 
—  and  God  will  reward  it.  We  have  great  things  in  re 
serve,  and  I  devoutly  wish  we  may  be  all  found  eaual  to 
12* 


138  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

our  several  duties.  I  hope  my  Lord  the  King  will  not  with 
hold  from  my  undertaking  the  light  of  his  gracious 
countenance." 

"  You  are  a  servitor  of  Castile.  Senor  Colon,  though 
little  is  attempted  for  even  this  kingdom,  without  the  appro 
bation  and  consent  of  the  King  of  Aragon.  Don  Fernando 
hath  been  gained  over  to  our  side,  though  his  greater  caution 
and  superior  wisdom  have  not  as  easily  fallen  into  the  mea 
sure,  as  woman's  faith  and  woman's  hopes." 

"  I  ask  no  higher  wisdom,  no  truer  faith,  than  those  of 
Isabella's,"  said  the  navigator,  with  a  grave  dignity  that  ren 
dered  the  compliment  so  much  the  more  acceptable,  by 
giving  it  every  appearance  of  sincerity.  "  Her  known  pru 
dence  shall  turn  from  me  the  derision  of  the  light-minded 
and  idle,  and  on  her  royal  word  I  place  all  my  hopes. 
Henceforth,  and  I  trust  for  ever,  I  am  Your  Hrghness's 
subject  and  servant." 

The  queen  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  air  of  lofty 
truth  that  elevated  the  thoughts  and  manners  of  the  speaker. 
Hitherto,  she  had  seen  but  little  of  the  navigator,  and  never, 
before,  under  circumstances  that  enabled  her  so  thoroughly 
to  feel  the  influence  of  his  air  and  deportment.  Columbus 
had  not  the  finish  of  manner  that  it  is  fancied  courts  only 
can  bestow,  and  which  it  would  be  more  just  to  refer  to  lives 
devoted  to  habits  of  pleasing  ;  but  the  character  of  the  man 
shone  through  the  exterior,  and,  in  his  case,  all  that  artificial 
training  could  supply  fell  short  of  the  noble  aspect  of  na 
ture,  sustained  by  high  aspirations.  To  a  commanding 
person,  and  a  gravity  that  was  heightened  by  the  loftiness 
of  his  purposes,  Columbus  added  the  sober  earnestness  of  a 
deeply  seated  and  an  all-pervading  enthusiasm.,  which  threw 
the  grace  of  truth  and  probity  on  what  he  said  and  did. 
No  quality  of  his  mind  was  more  apparent  than  its  sense 
of  right,  as  right  was  then  considered  in  connection  with 
the  opinions  of  the  age ;  and  it  is  a  singular  circumstance 
that  the  greatest  adventure  of  modern  times  was  thus  con 
fided  by  Providence,  as  it  might  be  with  especial  objects,  to 
the  care  of  a  sovereign  and  to  the  hands  of  an  executive 
leader,  who  were  equally  distinguished  by  the  possession 
of  so  rare  a  characteristic. 

"  I  thank  you,  Senor    for  this  proof  cf  confidence,"  re- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  139 

turned  the  queen,  both  surprised  and  gratified;  "and  so 
long  as  God  giveth  me  power  to  direct,  and  knowledge  to 
decide,  your  interests,  as  well  as  those  of  this  long-cher 
ished  scheme,  shall  be  looked  lo.  But  we  are  not  to  exclude 
the  king  from  our  confederacy,  since  he  hath  been  finally 
gained  to  our  opinions,  and  no  doubt  now  as  anxiously 
looketh  forward  to  success  as  we  do  ourselves." 

Columbus  bowed  his  acquiescence,  and  the  conjugal 
affection  of  Isabella  was  satisfied  with  this  concession  to 
her  husband's  character  and  motives ;  for,  while  it  was  im 
possible  that  one  so  pure  and  ardent  in  the  cause  of  virtue, 
and  as  disinterested  as  the  queen,  should  not  detect  some 
of  the  selfishness  of  Ferdinand's  cautious  policy,  the  feel 
ings  of  a  wife  so  far  prevailed  in  her  breast,  over  the  saga 
city  of  the  sovereign,  as  to  leave  her  blind  to  faults  that  the 
enemies  of  Aragon  were  fond  of  dwelling  on.  All  admitted 
the  truth  of  Isabella,  but  Ferdinand  had  far  less  credit  with 
his  contemporaries,  either  on  the  score  of  faith  or  on  that 
of  motives.  Still  he  might  have  been  ranked  among  the 
most  upright  of  the  reigning  princes  of  Europe,  his  faults 
being  rendered  the  more  conspicuous,  perhaps,  from  being 
necessarily  placed  in  such  close  connection  with,  and  in 
such  vivid  contrast  to,  the  truer  virtues  of  the  queen.  In 
short,  these  two  sovereigns,  so  intimately  united  by  per 
sonal  and  political  interests,  merely  exhibited  on  their 
thrones  a  picture  that  may  be  seen,  at  any  moment,  in  all 
the  inferior  gradations  of  the  social  scale,  in  which  the 
worldly  views  and  meretricious  motives  of  man,  serve  as 
foils  to  the  truer  heart,  sincerer  character,  and  more  chas 
tened  conduct  of  woman. 

Don  Fernando  now  appeared,  and  he  joined  in  the  dis 
course  in  a  manner  to  show  that  he  considered  himself  fully 
committed  to  redeem  the  pledges  given  by  his  wife.  The 
historians  have  told  us  that  he  had  been  won  over  by  the 
intercessions  of  a  favourite,  though  the  better  opinion  would 
seem  to  be  that  deference  for  Isabella,  whose  pure  earnest 
ness  in  the  cause  of  virtue  often  led  him  from  his  more 
selfish  policy,  lay  at  the  bottom  of  his  compliance.  What 
ever  may  have  been  the  motive,  however,  it  is  certain  that 
the  king  never  entered  into  the  undertaking  with  the  ardent 


140  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

zealous,  endeavours  to  insure  success,  which,   from  that 
moment,  distinguished  the  conduct  of  his  royal  consort. 

"  We  have  recovered  our  truant,"  said  Isabella,  as  her 
husband  approached,  her  eyes  lighting  and  her,  cheeks 
flushed  with  a  pious  enthusiasm,  like  those  of  Mercedes  de 
Valverde,  who  was  an  entranced  witness  of  all  that  was 
passing.  "  We  have  recovered  our  truant,  and  there  is  not 
a  moment  of  unnecessary  delay  to  be  permitted,  until  he 
shall  be  sent  forth  on  this  great  voyage.  Should  he  truly 
attain  Cathay  and  the  Indies,  it  will  be  a  triumph  to  the 
church  even  exceeding  this  conquest  of  the  territories  of 
the  Moor." 

"  I  am  pleased  to  see  Senor  Colon  at  Santa  Fe,  again," 
courteously  returned  the  king,  "  and  if  he  but  do  the  half  of 
that  thou  seemest  to  expect,  we  shall  have  reason  to  rejoice 
that  our  countenance  hath  not  been  withheld.  He  may  not 
render  the  crown  of  Castile  still  more  powerful,  but  he  may 
so  far  enrich  himself  that,  as  a  subject,  he  will  have  diffi 
culty  in  finding  the  proper  uses  for  his  gold." 

"  There  will  always  be  a  use  for  the  gold  of  a  Chris 
tian,"  answered  the  navigator,  "  while  the  Infidel  remaineth 
the  master  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre." 

"  How  is  this  !"  exclaimed  Ferdinand,  in  his  quick,  sharp 
voice :  "  dost  thou  think,  Senor,  of  a  crusade,  as  well  as 
of  discovering  new  regions  ?" 

"  Such,  Your  Highness,  it  hath  long  been  my  hope,  would 
be  the  first  appropriation  of  the  wealth  that  will,  out  ot 
question,  flow  from  the  discovery  of  a  new  and  near  route 
to  the  Indies.  Is  it  not  a  blot  on  Christendom  that  the 
Mussulman  should  be  permitted  to  raise  his  profane  altars 
on  the  spot  that  Christ  visited  on  earth ;  where,  indeed,  he 
was  born,  and  where  his  holy  remains  lay  until  his  glo 
rious  tesurrection  ?  This  foul  disgrace,  there  are  hearts  and 
swords  enough  ready  to  wipe  out ;  all  that  is  wanted  is 
gold.  If  the  first  desire  of  my  heart  be,  to  become  the 
instrument  of  leading  the  way  to  the  East,  by  a  western 
and  direct  passage,  the  second  is,  to  see  the  riches  that  will 
certainly  follow  such  a  discovery,  devoted  to  the  service  of 
God,  by  rearing  anew  his  altars,  and  reviving  his  worship, 
in  the  land  where  he  endured  his  agony  and  gave  up  the 
ghost  for  the  sins  of  men." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  141 

Isabella  smiled  at  the  navigator's  enthusiasm,  though, 
sooth  to  say,  the  sentiment  found  something  of  an  echo  in 
her  pious  bosom ;  albeit  the  age  of  crusades  appeared  to 
have  gone  by.  Not  so  exactly  with  Ferdinand.  He  smiled 
also,  but  no  answering  sentiment  of  holy  zeal  was  awakened 
within  him.  He  felt,  on  the  contrary,  a  strong  distrust  of 
the  wisdom  of  committing  the  care  of  even  two  insignificant 
caravels,  and  the  fate  of  a  sum  as  small  as  three  thousand 
crowns,  to  a  visionary,  who  had  scarcely  made  a  com 
mencement  in  one  extremely  equivocal  enterprise,  before 
his  thoughts  were  running  on  the  execution  of  another, 
that  had  baffled  the  united  efforts  and  pious  constancy  of 
all  Europe.  To  him,  the  discovery  of  a  western  passage 
to  the  Indies,  and  the  repossession  of  the  holy  sepulchre, 
were  results  that  were  equally  problematical,  and  it  would 
have  been  quite  sufficient  to  incur  his  distrust,  to  believe  in 
the  practicability  of  either.  Here,  however,  was  a  man 
who  was  about  to  embark  in  an  attempt  to  execute  the  first, 
holding  in  reserve  the  last,  as  a  consequence  of  success  in 
the  undertaking  in  which  he  was  already  engaged. 

There  were  a  few  minutes,  during  which  Ferdinand  se 
riously  contemplated  the  defeat  of  the  Genoese's  schemes, 
and  had  the  discourse  terminated  here,  it  is  uncertain  how 
far  his  cool  and  calculating  policy  might  have  prevailed 
over  the  good  faith,  sincere  integrity,  and  newly  awakened 
enthusiasm  of  his  wife.  Fortunately,  the  conversation  had 
gone  on  while  he  was  meditating  on  this  subject,  and  when 
he  rejoined  the  circle  he  found  the  queen  and  the  navigator 
pursuing  the  subject  with  an  earnestness  that  had  entirely 
overlooked  his  momentary  absence. 

"  I  shall  show  Your  Highness  all  that  she  demandeth," 
continued  Columbus,  in  answer  to  a  question  of  the  queen's. 
"  It  is  my  expectation  to  reach  the  territories  of  the  Great 
Khan,  the  descendant  of  the  monarch  who  was  visited  by 
the  Polos,  a  century  since ;  at  which  time  a  strong  desire 
to  embrace  the  religion  of  Christ  was  manifested  by  many 
in  that  gorgeous  court,  the  sovereign  included.  We  are 
told  in  the  sacred  books  of  prophecy,  that  the  day  is  to 
arrive  when  the  whole  earth  will  worship  the  true  and 
living  God  ;  and  that  time,  it  would  seem,  from  many  signi 
and  tokens  that  are  visible  to  those  who  seek  them,  draweth 


142  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

near,  and  is  full  of  hope  to  such  as  honour  God  and  seek 
his  glory.  To  bring  all  those  vast  regions  in  subjection  to 
the  church,  needeth  but  a  constant  faith,  sustained  by  the 
delegated  agencies  of  the  priesthood,  and  the  protecting 
hands  of  princes." 

"  This  hath  a  seeming  probability,"  observed  the  queen, 
"  and  Providence  so  guide  us  in  this  mighty  undertaking, 
that  it  may  come  to  pass !  Were  those  Polos  pious  mis 
sionaries,  Senor?" 

"  They  were  but  travellers ;  men  who  sought  their  own 
advantage,  while  they  were  not  altogether  unmindful  of  the 
duties  of  religion.  It  may  be  well,  Senora,  first  to  plant 
the  cross  in  the  islands,  and  thence  to  spread  the  truth  over 
the  main  land.  Cipango,  in  particular,  is  a  promising  re 
gion  for  the  commencement  of  the  glorious  work,  which, 
no  doubt,  will  proceed  with  all  the  swiftness  of  a  miracle." 

"  Is  this  Cipango  known  to  produce  spices,  or  aught  that 
may  serve  to  uphold  a  sinking  treasury,  and  repay  us  for 
so  much  cost  and  risk  ?"  asked  the  king,  a  little  inoppor 
tunely  for  the  zeal  of  the  two  other  interlocutors. 

Isabella  looked  pained,  the  prevailing  trait  in  Ferdi 
nand's  character  often  causing  her  to  feel  as  affectionate 
wives  are  wont  to  feel  when  their  husbands  forget  to  think, 
act,  or  speak  up  to  the  level  of  their  own  warm-hearted 
and  virtuous  propensities ;  but  she  suffered  no  other  sign 
of  the  passing  emotion  to  escape  her. 

"According  to  the  accounts  of  Marco  Polo,  Your  High 
ness,"  answered  Columbus,  "  earth  hath  no  richer  island. 
It  aboundeth  especially  in  gold ;  nor  are  pearls  and  pre 
cious  stones  at  all  rare.  But  all  that  region  is  a  quarter 
of  infinite  wealth  and  benighted  infidelity.  Providence 
seemeth  to  have  united  the  first  with  the  last,  as  a  reward 
to  the  Christian  monarch  who  shall  use  his  power  to  extend 
the  sway  of  the  church.  The  sea,  thereabouts,  is  covered 
with  smaller  islands,  Marco  telling  us  that  no  less  than 
seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  have  been  enume 
rated,  not  one  of  all  which  doth  not  produce  some  odorife 
rous  tree,  or  plant  of  delicious  perfume.  It  is  then,  thither, 
gracious  Lord  and  Lady,  my  honoured  sovereigns,  that  I 
propose  to  proceed  at  once,  leaving  all  meaner  objects,  to 
exalt  the  two  kingdoms  and  to  serve  the  church.  Should 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  143 

we  reach  Cipango  in  safety,  as,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
acting  on  a  zeal  and  faith  that  are  not  easily  shaken,  I  trust 
we  shall  be  able  to  do,  in  the  course  of  two  months'  diligent 
navigation,  it  will  be  my  next  purpose  to  pass  over  to  the 
continent,  and  seek  the  Khan  himself,  in  his  kingdom  of 
Cathay.  The  day  that  my  foot  touches  the  land  of  Asia 
will  be  a  glorious  day  for  Spain,  and  for  all  who  have  had 
a  part  in  the  accomplishment  of  so  great  an  enterprise !" 

Ferdinand's  keen  eyes  were  riveted  on  the  navigator,  as 
he  thus  betrayed  his  hopes  with  the  quiet  but  earnest  man 
ner  of  deep  enthusiasm,  and  he  might  have  been  at  a  loss, 
himself,  just  at  that  moment,  to  have  analyzed  his  own 
feelings.  The  picture  of  wealth  that  Columbus  had  con 
jured  to  his  imagination,  was  as  enticing,  as  his  cold  and 
calculating  habits  of  distrust  and  caution  rendered  it  ques 
tionable.  Isabella  heard  only,  or  thought  only  of  the  pious 
longings  of  her  pure  spirit  for  the  conversion  and  salvation 
of  the  Infidels,  and  thus  each  of  the  two  sovereigns  had  a 
favourite  impulse  to  bind  him,  or  her,  to  the  prosecution  of 
the  voyage. 

After  this,  the  conversation  entered  more  into  details,  and 
the  heads  of  the  terms  demanded  by  Columbus  were  gone 
over  again,  and  approved  of  by  those  who  were  most  in 
terested  in  the  matter.  All  thought  of  the  archbishop  and 
his  objections  was  momentarily  lost,  and  had  the  Genoese 
been  a  monarch,  treating  with  monarchs,  he  could  not  have 
had  more  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  respectful  manner 
in  which  his  terms  were  heard.  Even  his  proposal  to 
receive  one-eighth  of  the  profits  of  this,  and  all  future  ex 
peditions  to  Jjie  places  he  might  discover,  on  condition  of 
his  advancing  an  equal  proportion  of  the  outfits,  was  cheer 
fully  acceded  to;  making  him,  at  once,  a  partner  with  the 
crown,  in  the  risks  and  benefits  of  the  many  undertakings 
that  it  was  hoped  would  follow  from  the  success  of  this. 

Luis  de  St.  Angel  and  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla  quitted  the 
royal  presence,  in  company  with  Columbus.  They  saw 
him  to  his  lodgings,  and  left  him  with  a  respect  and  cor 
diality  of  manner,  that  cheered  a  heart  which  had  lately 
been  so  bruised  and  disappointed.  As  they  walked  away 
in  company,  the  former,  who,  notwithstanding  the  liberality 
of  his  views  and  his  strong  support  of  the  navigator,  wag 


144  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

not  apt  to  suppress  his  thoughts,  opened  a  dialogue  in  the 
following  manner. 

"  By  all  the  saints  !  friend  Alonzo,"  he  exclaimed,  "  but 
this  Colon  carrieth  it  with  a  high  hand  among  us,  and  in  a 
way,  sometimes,  to  make  me  doubt  the  prudence  of  our  in 
terference.  He  hath  treated  with  the  two  sovereigns  like  a 
monarch,  and  like  a  monarch  hath  he  carried  his  poict !" 

C!  Who  hath  aided  him  more  than  thyself,  friend  Luis?" 
returned  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla ;  "  for,  without  thy  bold 
assault  on  Dona  Isabella's  patience,  the  matter  had  been 
decided  against  this  voyage,  and  the  Genoese  would  still  be 
on  his  way  to  the  court  of  King  Louis." 

"  I  regret  it  not ;  the  chance  of  keeping  the  Frenchman 
within  modest  bounds  being  worth  a  harder  effort.  Her 
Highness — Heaven  and  all  the  saints  unite  to  bless  her  for 
her  upright  intentions  and  generous  thoughts — will  never 
regret  the  trifling  cost,  even  though  bootless,  with  so  great 
an  aim  in  view.  But  now  the  thing  is  done,  I  marvel,  my 
self,  that  a  Queen  of  Castile  and  a  King  of  Aragon  should 
grant  such  conditions  to  an  unknown  and  nameless  sea 
farer  ;  one  that  hath  neither  services,  family,  nor  gold,  to 
recommend  him !" 

"  Hath  he  not  had  Luis  de  St.  Angel  of  his  side?" 

"That  hath  he,"  returned  the  receiver-general,  "and 
that  right  stoutly,  too ;  and  for  good  and  sufficient  cause. 
I  only  marvel  at  our  success,  and  at  the  manner  in  which 
this  Colon  hath  borne  himself  in  the  affair.  I  much  feared 
that  the  high  price  he  set  upon  his  services  might  ruin  all 
our  hopes." 

"And  yet  thou  didst  reason  with  the  queen,  as  if  thou 
thought'st  it  insignificant,  compared  with  the  good  that 
would  come- of  the  voyage." 

"  Is  there  aught  wonderful  in  this,  my  worthy  friend  ? 
We  consume  our  means  in  efforts  to  obtain  our  ends,  and, 
while  suffering  under  the  exhaustion,  begin  first  to  see  the 
other  side  of  the  question.  I  am  chiefly  surprised  at  mine 
own  success !  As  for  this  Genoese,  he  is,  truly,  a  most 
wonderful  man,  and,  in  my  heart,  I  think  him  right  in  de 
manding  such  high  conditions.  If  he  succeed,  who  so  great 
as  he?  and,  if  he  fail,  the  conditions  will  do  him  no  good, 
and  Castile  little  harm." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  115 

**  I  have  remarked,  Senor  de  St.  Angel,  that  when  grave 
men  set  a  light  value  on  themselves,  the  world  is  apt  to 
take  them  at  their  word,  though  willing  enough  to  laugh  at 
the  pretensions  of  triflers.  After  all,  the  high  demands  of 
Colon  may  have  done  him  much  service,  since  their  High 
nesses  could  not  but  feel  that  they  were  negotiating  with 
one  who  had  faith  in  his  own  projects." 

"  It  is  much  as  thou  sayest,  Alonzo ;  men  often  prizing 
us  as  we  seem  to  prize  ourselves,  so  long  as  we  act  at 
all  up  to  the  level  of  our  pretensions.  But  there  is  sterling 
merit  in  this  Colon,  to  sustain  him  in  all  that  he  sayeth  and 
doth ;  wisdom  of  speech,  dignity  and  gravity  of  mien,  and 
nobleness  of  feeling  and  sentiment.  Truly,  I  have  listened 
to  the  man  when  he  hath  seemed  inspired !" 

"  Well,  he  hath  now  good  occasion  to  manifest  whether 
this  inspiration  be  of  the  true  quality  or  not,"  returned  the 
other.  "  Of  a  verity,  I  often  distrust  the  wisdom  of  our 
own  conclusions." 

In  this  manner,  did  even  these  two  zealous  friends  of 
Columbus  discuss  his  character  and  chances  of  success ; 
for,  while  they  were  among  the  most  decided  of  his  sup 
porters,  and  had  discovered  the  utmost  readiness  to  uphold 
him,  when  his  cause  seemed  hopeless,  now  that  the  means 
were  likely  to  be  afforded  to  allow  him  to  demonstrate  the 
justice  of  his  opinions,  doubts  and  misgivings  beset  their 
minds.  Such  is  human  nature.  Opposition  awakens  our 
zeal,  quickens  our  apprehension,  stimulates  our  reason  and 
emboldens  our  opinions;  while,  thrown  back  upon  our 
selves  for  the  proofs  of  what  we  have  been  long  stoutly 
maintaining  under  the  pressure  of  resistance,  we  begin  to 
distrust  the  truth  of  our  own  theories  and  to  dread  the  de 
monstrations  of  a  failure.  Even  the  first  disciples  of  the 
Son  of  God  faltered  most  in  their  faith  as  his  predictions 
were  being  realized  ;  and  most  reformers  are  never  so  dog 
matical  and  certain  as  when  battling  for  their  principles,  or 
so  timid  and  wavering  as  when  they  are  about  to  put  their 
own  long-cherished  plans  in  execution.  In  all  this,  we  might 
see  a  wise  provision  of  Providence,  which  gives  us  zeal  to 
overcome  difficulties,  and  prudence  when  caution  and  mo 
deration  become  virtues  rather  than  faults. 
13 


146  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Although  Luis  de  St.  Angel  and  his  friend  conversed  thus 
freely  together,  however,  they  did  not  the  less  continue  true 
to  their  original  feelings.  Their  doubts  were  transient  ana 
of  little  account ;  and  it  was  remarked  of  them,  whenever 
they  were  in  the  presence  of  Columbus,  himself,  that  the 
calm,  steady,  but  deeply  seated  enthusiasm  of  that  extra 
ordinary  man,  did  not  fail  to  carry  with  him,  the  opinions 
not  only  of  these  steady  supporters,  but  those  of  most 
other  listeners. 


CHAPTER  X. 

—  "Song  is  on  thy  hills: 
Oh,  sweet  and  mournful  melodies  of  Spain, 
That  lull'd  my  boyhood,  how  your  memory  thrills 
The  exile's  heart  with  sudden-wakening  pain." 

The  Forest  Sanctuary. 

FROM  the  moment  that  Isabella  pledged  her  royal  word 
to  support  Columbus  in  his  great  design,  all  reasonable 
doubts  of  the  sailing  of  the  expedition  ceased,  though  few 
anticipated  any  results  of  importance.  Of  so  much  greater 
magnitude,  indeed,  did  the  conquest  of  the  kingdom  of 
Granada  appear,  at  that  instant,  than  any  probable  conse 
quences  which  could  follow  from  this  novel  enterprise,  thai 
the  latter  was  almost  overlooked  in  the  all-absorbing  in 
terest  that  was  connected  with  the  former. 

There  was  one  youthful  and  generous  heart,  however, 
all  of  whose  hopes  were  concentrated  in  the  success  of  the 
great  voyage.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  we  mean 
that  of  Mercedes  de  Valverde.  She  had  watched  the  recent 
events  as  they  occurred,  with  an  intensity  of  expectation 
that  perhaps  none  but  the  youthful,  fervent,  inexperienced, 
and  uncorrupted,  can  feel;  and  now  that  all  her  hopes 
were  about  to  be  realized,  a  tender  and  generous  joy  dif 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  147 

fused  itself  over  her  whole  moral  system,  in  a  way  to  ren 
der  her  happiness,  for  the  time,  even  blissful.  Although 
she  loved  so  truly  and  with  so  much  feminine  devotedness, 
nature  had  endowed  this  warm-hearted  young  creature  with 
a  sagacity  and  readiness  of  apprehension,  which,  when 
quickened  by  the  sentiments  that  are  so  apt  to  concentrate 
all  the  energies  of  her  sex,  showed  her  the  propriety  of  the 
distrust  of  the  queen  and  her  guardian,  and  fully  justified 
their  hesitation  in  her  eyes,  which  were  rather  charmed 
than  blinded  by  the  ascendency  of  her  passion.  She  knew 
too  well  what  was  due  to  her  virgin  fame,  her  high  ex 
pectations,  her  great  name,  and  her  elevated  position  near 
the  person,  and  in  the  immediate  confidence,  of  Isabella, 
even  to  wish  her  hand  unworthily  bestowed ;  and  while  she 
deferred,  with  the  dignity  and  discretion  of  birth  and  female 
decorum,  to  all  that  opinion  and  prudence  could  have  a 
right  to  ask  of  a  noble  maiden,  she  confided  in  her  lover's 
power  to  justify  her  choice,  with  the  boundless  confidence 
of  a  woman.  Her  aunt  had  taught  her  to  believe  that  this 
voyage  of  the  Genoese  was  likely  to  lead  to  great  events, 
and  her  religious  enthusiasm,  like  that  of  the  queen's,  led 
her  to  expect  most  of  that  which  she  so  fervently  wished. 

During  the  time  it  was  known  to  those  near  the  person 
of  Isabella,  that  the  conditions  between  the  sovereigns  and 
the  navigator  were  being  reduced  to  writing  and  were  re 
ceiving  the  necessary  forms,  Luis  neither  sought  an  inter 
view  with  his  mistress,  nor  was  accidentally  favoured  in 
that  way;  but,  no  sooner  was  it  understood  Columbus 
had  effected  all  that  he  deemed  necessary  in  this  particular, 
and  had  quitted  the  court  for  the  coast,  than  the  young  man 
threw  himself,  at  once,  on  the  generosity  of  his  aunt,  be 
seeching  her  to  favour  his  views  now  that  he  was  about  to 
leave  Spain  on  an  adventure  that  most  regarded  as  despe 
rate.  All  he  asked  was  a  pledge  of  being  well  received  by 
his  mistress  and  her  friends,  on  his  return  successful. 

"  1  see  that  thou  hast  taken  a  lesson  from  this  new  mas 
ter  of  thine,"  answered  the  high-souled  but  kind-hearted 
Beatriz,  smiling — "  and  would  fain  have  thy  terms  also. 
But  thou  knowest,  Luis,  that  Mercedes  de  Valverde  is  no 
peasant's  child  to  be  lightly  cared  for,  but  that  she  cometh 
of  the  noblest  blood  of  Spain,  having  had  a  Guzman  for  a 


148  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

mother,  and  Mendozas  out  of  number  among  her  kinsmen. 
She  is,  moreover,  one  of  the  richest  heiresses  of  Castile  ; 
and  it  would  ill  become  her  guardian  to  forget  her  watch 
fulness,  under  such  circumstances,  in  behalf  of  one  of  the 
idle  wanderers  of  Christendom,  simply  because  he  hap- 
peneth  to  be  her  own  beloved  brother's  son." 

"And  if  the  Dona  Mercedes  be  all  thou  sayest,  Senora 
—  and  thou  hast,  not  even  touched  upon  her  highest  claims 
to  merit,  her  heart,  her  beauty,  her  truth  and  her  thousand 
virtues  —  but  if  she  be  all  that  thou  sayest,  Dona  Beatriz, 
is  a  Bobadilla  unworthy  of  her?" 

"  How !  if  she  be,  moreover,  all  thou  sayest  too,  Don 
Luis !  The  heart,  the  truth,  and  the  thousand  virtues ! 
Methinks  a  shorter  catalogue  might  content  one  who  is 
himself  so  great  a  rover,  lest  some  of  these  qualities  be 
lost,  in  his  many  journeys  !" 

Luis  laughed,  in  spite  of  himself,  at  the  affected  serious 
ness  of  his  aunt ;  and  then  successfully  endeavouring  to 
repress  a  little  resentment  that  her  language  awakened,  he 
answered  in  a  way  to  do  no  discredit  to  a  well-established 
reputation  for  good-nature. 

"  I  cannot  call  thee  '  Daughter-Marchioness,'  in  imitation 
of  Her  Highness,"  he  answered,  with  a  coaxing  smile,  so 
like  that  her  deceased  brother  was  wont  to  use  when  dis 
posed  to  wheedle  her  out  of  some  concession,  that  it  fairly 
caused  Dona  Beatriz  to  start — "  but  I  can  say  with  more 
truth,  'Aunt-Marchioness,'  —  and  a  very  dear  aunt,  too  — 
wilt  thou  visit  a  little  youthful  indiscretion  so  severely? 
I  had  hoped,  now  Colon  was  about  to  set  forth,  that  all 
was  forgotten  in  the  noble  and  common  end  we  have  in 
view." 

"  Luis,"  returned  the  aunt,  regarding  her  nephew  with 
the  severe  resolution  that  was  so  often  exhibited  in  her 
acts,  as  well  as  in  her  words,  "  dost  think  that  a  mere  dis 
play  of  courage  will  prove  sufficient  to  win  Mercedes  from 
me  ?  to  put  to  sleep  the  vigilance  of  her  friends  ?  to  gain  the 
approbation  of  her  guardian  ?  Learn,  too  confident  boy, 
that  Mercedes  de  Guzman  was  the  companion  of  my  child 
hood  ;  my  warmest,  dearest  friend,  next  to  Her  Highness ; 
and  that  she  put  all  faith  in  my  disposition  to  do  full  justice 
by  her  child.  She  died  by  slow  degrees,  and  the  fate  of 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  149 

the  orphan  was  often  discussed  between  us.  That  she 
could  ever  become  the  wife  of  any  but  a  Christian  noble, 
neither  of  us  imagined  possible ;  but  there  are  so  many 
different  characters  under  the  same  outward  professions., 
that  names  deceived  us  not.  I  do  believe  that  poor  woman 
bethought  her  more  of  her  child's  future  worldly  fortunes, 
than  of  her  own  sins,  and  that  she  prayed  oftener  for  the 
happy  conclusion  of  the  first,  than  for  the  pardon  of  the 
last !  Thou  knowest  little  of  the  strength  of  a  mother's 
love,  Luis,  and  canst  not  understand  all  the  doubts  that 
beset*  the  heart,  when  the  parent  is  compelled  to  leave  a 
tender  plant,  like  Mercedes,  to  the  cold  nursing  of  a  selfish 
and  unfeeling  world." 

"  I  can  readily  fancy  the  mother  of  my  love  fitted  for 
heaven  without  the  usual  interpositions  of  masses  and  pa 
ters,  Dona  Beatriz  ;  but  have  aunts  no  consideration  for 
nephews,  as  well  as  mothers  for  children  ?" 

"  The  tie  is  close  and  strong,  my  child,  and  yet  is  it  not 
parental ;  nor  art  thou  a  sensitive,  true-hearted,  enthusiastic 
girl,  filled  with  the  confidence  of  thy  purity,  and  overflowing 
with  the  affections  that,  in  the  end,  make  mothers  what 
they  are." 

"  By  San  lago !  and  am  I  not  the  very  youth  to  render 
such  a  creature  happy  1  I,  too,  am  sensitive  —  too  much 
so,  in  sooth,  for  my  own  peace :  I,  too,  am  true-hearted, 
as  is  seen  by  my  having  had  but  this  one  love,  when  I 
might  have  had  fifty ;  and  if  I  am  not  exactly  overflowing 
with  the  confidence  of  purity,  I  have  the  confidence  of 
youth,  health,  strength  and  courage,  which  is  quite  as  use 
ful  for  a  cavalier ;  and  I  have  abundance  of  the  affection 
that  makes  good  fathers,  which  is  all  that  can  reasonably 
be  asked  of  a  man." 

"  Thou,  then,  thinkest  thyself,  truant,  every  way  worthy 
to  be  the  husband  of  Mercedes  de  Valverde  ?" 

"  Nay,  aunt  of  mine,  thou  hast  a  searching  way  with 
thy  questions  !  Who  is,  or  can  be,  exactly  worthy  of  so 
much  excellence !  I  may  not  be  altogether  deserving  of 
her,  but,  then  again,  I  am  not  altogether  undeserving  of 
her.  I  am  quite  as  noble,  nearly  as  well  endowed  with 
estates,  of  suitable  years,  of  fitting  address  as  a  knight, 
and  love  her  better  than  I  love  my  own  soul.  Methinks  the 
13* 


150  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

last  should  count  for  something,  since  he  that  loveth  de 
votedly,  will  surely  strive  to  render  its  object  happy." 

"  Thou  art  a  silly,  inexperienced  boy,  with  a  most  excel 
lent  heart,  a  happy  careless  disposition,  and  a  head  that 
was  made  to  hold  better  thoughts  than  commonly  reside 
there !"  exclaimed  the  aunt,  giving  way  to  an  impulse  of 
natural  feeling,  even  while  she  frowned  on  her  nephew's 
folly.  "  But,  hear  me,  and  for  once  think  gravely,  and 
reflect  on  what  I  say.  I  have  told  thee  of  the  mother  of 
Mercedes,  of  her  dying  doubts,  her  anxiety,  and  of  her 
confidence  in  me.  Her  Highness  and  I  were  alone 'with 
her,  the  morning  of  the  day  that  her  spirit  took  its  flight 
to  heaven;  and  then  she  poured  out  all  her  feelings,  in  a 
way  that  has  left  on  us  both,  an  impression  that  can  never 
cease  while  aught  can  be  done  by  either  for  the  security  of 
the  daughter's  happiness.  Thou  hast  thought  the  queen 
unkind.  I  know  not  but,  in  thy  intemperate  speech,  thou 
hast  dared  to  charge  Her  Highness  with  carrying  her  care 
for  her  subjects'  well-being  beyond  a  sovereign's  rights" — 

"  Nay,  Dona  Beatriz,"  hastily  interrupted  Luis,  "  herein 
thou  dost  me  great  injustice.  I  may  have  felt — no  doubt  I 
have  keenly,  bitterly,  felt  the  consequences  of  Dona  Isa 
bella's  distrust  of  my  constancy ;  but  never  has  rebel 
thought  of  mine  even  presumed  to  doubt  her  right  to  com 
mand  all  our  services,  as  well  as  all  our  lives.  This  is  due 
to  her  sacred  authority  from  all;  but  we,  who  so  well 
know  the  heart  and  motives  of  the  queen,  also  know  that 
she  doth  nought  from  caprice  or  a  desire  to  rule ;  while  she 
doth  so  much  from  affection  to  her  people." 

As  Don  Luis  uttered  this  with  an  earnest  look,  and  fea 
tures  flushed  with  sincerity,  it  was  impossible  not  to  see 
that  he  meant  as  much  as  he  said.  If  men  considered  the 
consequences  that  often  attend  their  lightest  words,  less 
levity  of  speech  would  be  used,  and  the  office  of  tale 
bearer,  the  meanest  station  in  the  whole  catalogue  of  so 
cial  rank,  would  become  extinct  for  want  of  occupation. 
Few  cared  less,  or  thought  less,  about  the  consequences  of 
what  they  uttered,  than  Luis  de  Bobadilla ;  and  yet  this 
hasty  but  sincere  reply  did  him  good  service  with  more 
than  one  of  those  who  exercised  a  material  influence  ovei 
his  fortunes.  The.honest  praise  of  the  queen  went  directly 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  151 

to  the  heart  of  the  Marchioness,  who  rather  idolized  than 
loved  her  royal  mistress,  the  long  and  close  intimacy  that 
had  existed  between  them  having  made  her  thoroughly  ac 
quainted  with  the  pure  and  almost  holy  character  of  Isa 
bella ;  and  when  she  repeated  the  words  of  her  nephew  to 
the  latter,  her  own  well-established  reputation  for  truth 
caused  them  to  be  implicitly  believed.  Whatever  may  be 
the  correctness  of  our  views  in  general,  one  of  the  most 
certain  ways  to  the  feelings  is  the  assurance  of  being  re 
spected  and  esteemed ;  while,  of  all  the  divine  mandates, 
the  most  difficult  to  find  obedience  is  that  which  tells  us  to 
"  love  those  who  hate"  us.  Isabella,  notwithstanding  her 
high  destiny  and  lofty  qualities,  was  thoroughly  a  woman ; 
and  when  she  discovered  that  in  spite  of  her  own  coldness 
to  the  youth,  he  really  entertained  so  much  profound  de 
ference  for  her  character,  and  appreciated  her  ieelings  and 
motives  in  a  way  that  conscience  tojd  her  she  merited,  she 
was  much  better  disposed  to  look  at  his  peculiar  faults  witU 
indulgence,  and  to  ascribe  that  to  mere  animal  spirits,  which, 
under  less  favourable  auspices,  might  possibly  have  beeij 
mistaken  for  ignoble  propensities. 

But  this  is  a  little  anticipating  events.  The  first  conse 
quence  of  Luis's  speech  was  a  milder  expression  in  tht 
countenance  of  his  aunt,  and  a  disposition  to  consider  his 
entreaties  to  be  admitted  to  a  private  interview  with  Mer 
cedes,  with  more  indulgence. 

"  I  may  have  done  thee  injustice  in  this,  Luis,"  resumed 
Dona  Beatriz,  betraying  in  her  manner  the  sudden  change 
of  feeling  mentioned ;  "  for  I  do  think  thee  conscious  of 
thy  duty  to  Her  Highness,  and  of  the  almost  heavenly 
sense  of  justice  that  reigneth  in  her  heart,  and  through  that 
heart,  in  Castile.  Thou  hast  not  lost  in  my  esteem  by  thus 
exhibiting  thy  respect  and  love  for  the  queen,  far  it  is  im 
possible  to  have  any  regard  for  female  virtue,  and  not  to 
manifest  it  to  its  best  representative." 

"  Do  I  not,  also,  dear  aunt,  in  my  attachment  to  thy 
ward  1  Is  not  my  very  choice,  in  some  sort,  a  pledge  of 
the  truth  and  justice  of  my  feelings  in  these  particulars?" 

"  Ah  !  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  it  is  not  difficult  to  teach  the 
heart  to  lean  towards  the  richest  and  the  noblest,  when  she 
faappeaeth  also  to  be  the  fairest,  maiden  of  Spain !" 


152  MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"And  am  1  a  hypocrite,  Marchioness  1  Dost  thou  accuse 
the  son  of  thy  brother  of  being  a  feigner  of  that  which  ho 
doth  not  feel  1 — one  influenced  by  so  mean  a  passion  as  the 
love  of  gold  and  of  lands  ?" 

"Foreign  lands,  heedless  boy,"  returned  the  aunt 
smiling,  "  but  not  of  others'  lands.  No,  Luis,  none  that 
know  thee  will  accuse  thee  of  hypocrisy.  We  believe  in 
the  truth  and  ardour  of  thy  attachment,  and  it  is  for  that 
very  cause  that  we  most  distrust  thy  passion." 

"  How !  Are  feigned  feelings  of  more  repute  with  the 
queen  and  thyself,  than  real  feelings  1  A  spurious  and  fan 
cied  love,  than  the  honest,  downright,  manly  passion  ?" 

"  It  is  this  genuine  feeling,  this  honest,  downright,  manly 
passion,  as  thou  termest  it,  which  is  most  apt  to  awaken 
sympathy  in  the  tender  bosom  of  a  young  girl..  There  is 
no  truer  touch-stone,  by  which  to  try  the  faithfulness  of 
feelings,  than  the  heart,  when  the  head  is  not  turned  by 
vanity  ;  and  the  more  unquestionable  the  passion,  the  easier 
is  it  for  its  subject  to  make  the  discovery.  Two  drops  of 
water  do  not  glide  together  more  naturally  than  two  hearts 
nephew,  when  there  is  a  strong  affinity  between  them 
Didst  thou  not  really  love  Mercedes,  as  rny  near  and  deai 
relative,  thou  might'st  laugh  and  sing  in  her  company  at 
all  times  that  should  be  suitable  for  the  dignity  of  a  maiden, 
and  it  would  not  cause  me  an  uneasy  moment." 

"  I  am  thy  near  and  dear  relative,  aunt  of  mine,  with  a 
miracle !  and  yet  it  is  more  difficult  for  me  to  get  a  sight 
of  thy  ward" — 

"  Who  is  the  especial  care  of  the  Queen  of  Castile." 

"  Well,  be  it  so ;  and  why  should  a  Bobadilla  be  pro 
scribed  by  even  a  Queen  of  Castile  ?" 

Luis  then  had  recourse  to  his  most  persuasive  powers, 
and,  improving  the  little  advantage  he  had  gained,  by  dint 
of  coaxing  and  teasing  he  so  far  prevailed  on  Dona  Beatriz 
as  to  obtain  a  promise  that  she  would  apply  to  the  queen 
for  permission  to  grant  him  one  private  interview  with  Mer 
cedes.  We  say  the  queen,  since  Isabella,  distrusting  the 
influence  of  blood,  had  cautioned  the  Marchioness  on  this 
subject;  and  the  prudence  of  Jetting  the  young  people  see 
each  other  as  little  as  possible,  had  been  fully  settled 
between  them.  It  was  in  redeeming  this  promise,  that  th& 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  153 

aunt  related  the  substance  of  the  conversation  that  has  just 
been  given,  and  mentioned  to  her  royal  mistress  the  state 
of  her  nephew's  feelings  as  respected  herself.  The  effect 
of  such  information  was  necessarily  favourable  to  the 
young  man's  views,  and  one  of  its  first  fruits  was  the  de 
sired  permission  to  have  the  interview  he  sought. 

"  They  are  not  sovereigns,"  remarked  the  queen,  with  a 
smile  that  the  favourite  could  see  was  melancholy,  though 
it  surpassed  her  means  of  penetration  to  say  whether  it 
proceeded  from  a  really  saddened  feeling,  or  whether  it 
were  merely  the  manner  in  which  the  mind  is  apt  to  glance 
backward  at  emotions  that  it  is  known  can  never  be  again 
awakened  in  our  bosoms; — '"they  are  not  sovereigns, 
Daughter-Marchioness,  to  woo  by  proxy,  and  wed  as 
strangers.  It  may  not  be  wise  to  suffer  the  intercourse 
to  become  too  common,  but  it  were  cruel  to  deny  the  youth, 
as  he  is  about  to  depart  on  an  enterprise  of  so  doubtful 
issue,  one  opportunity  to  declare  his  passion  and  to  make 
his  protestations  of  constancy.  If  thy  ward  hath,  in  truth, 
any  tenderness  for  him,  the  recollection  of  this  interview 
will  soothe  many  a  weary  hour  while  Don  Luis  is  away." 

"  And  add  fuel  to  the  flame,"  returned  Dona  Beatriz, 
pointedly. 

"  We  know  not  that,  my  good  Beatriz,  since,  the  heart 
being  softened  by  the  power  of  God  to  a  sense  of  its  reli 
gious  duties,  may  not  the  same  kind  hand  direct  it  and 
shield  it  in  the  indulgence  of  its  more  worldly  feelings  1 
Mercedes  will  never  forget  her  duty,  and,  the  imagination 
feeding  itself,  it  may  not  be  the  wisest  course  to  leave  that 
of  an  enthusiast  like  our  young  charge,  so  entirely  to 
its  own  pictures.  Realities  are  often  less  hazardous  than 
the  creatures  of  the  fancy.  Then,  thy  nephew  will  not  be 
a  loser  by  the  occasion,  for,  by  keeping  constantly  in  view 
the  object  he  now  seemeth  to  pursue  so  earnestly,  he  wilJ 
the  more  endeavour  to  deserve  success." 

"  I  much  fear,  Senora,  that  the  best  conclusions  are  not 
to  be  depended  on  in  an  affair  that  touches  the  wayward 
ness  of  the  feelings." 

"  Perhaps  not,  Beatriz  ;  and  yet  I  do  not  see  that  we  can 
well  deny  this  interview,  now  that  Don  Luis  is  so  near 
departure.  Tell  him  J  accord  him  that  which  he  so 


154  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

desireth,  and  let  him  bear  in  mind  that  a  grandee  shouln 
never  quit  Castile  without  presenting  himself  before  his 
sovereign." 

"  I  fear,  Your  Highness,'*  returned  the  marchioness, 
laughing,  "  that  Don  Luis  will  feel  this  last  command,  how 
ever  gracious  and  kind  in  fact,  as  a  strong  rebuke,  since  he 
hath  more  than  once  done  this  already,  without  even  pre 
senting  himself  before  his  own  aunt  1" 

*'  On  those  occasions  he  went  idly,  and  without  consi 
deration;  but  he  is  now  engaged  in  an  honourable  and 
noble  enterprise,  and  we  will  make  it  apparent  to  him  that 
all  feel  the  difference." 

The  conversation  now  changed,  it  being  understood  that 
the  request  of  the  young  man  was  to  be  granted.  Isabella 
had,  in  this  instance,  departed  from  a  law  she  had  laid  down 
for  her  own  government,  under  the  influence  of  her  wo 
manly  feelings,  which  often  caused  her  to  forget  that  she 
was  a  queen,  when  no  very  grave  duties  existed  to  keep 
alive  the  recollection ;  for  it  would  have  been  difficult  to 
decide  in  which  light  this  pure-minded  and  excellent  female 
most  merited  the  esteem  of  mankind  —  in  her  high  char 
acter  as  a  just  and  conscientious  sovereign,  or  when  she 
acted  more  directly  under  the  gentler  impulses  of  her  sex. 
As  for  her  friend,  she  was  perhaps  more  tenacious  of  doing 
what  she  conceived  to  be  her  duty,  by  her  ward,  than  the 
queen  herself;  since,  with  a  greater  responsibility,  she  was 
exposed  to  the  suspicion  of  acting  with  a  design  to  increase 
the  wealth  and  to  strengthen  the  connections  of  her  own 
family.  Still,  the  wishes  of  Isabella  were  laws  to  the  Mar 
chioness  of  Moya,  and  she  sought  an  early  opportunity  to 
acquaint  her  ward  with  her  intention  to  allow  Don  Luis,  for 
once,  to  plead  his  own  cause  with  his  mistress,  before  he 
departed  on  his  perilous  and  mysterious  enterprise. 

Our  heroine  received  this  intelligence  with  the  mingled 
sensations  of  apprehension,  delight,  misgivings,  and  joy, 
that  are  so  apt  to  beset  the  female  heart,  in  the  fresh 
ness  of  its  affections,  when  once  brought  in  subjection  to 
the  master-passion.  She  had  never  thought  it  possible  Luia 
would  sail  on  an  expedition  like  that  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged,  without  endeavouring  to  see  her  alone ;  but,  now 
she  was  assured  that  both  the  queen  and  her  guardian  ac- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  155 

qttiesced  in  his  being  admitted-,  she  almost  regretted  their 
compliance.  These  contradictory  emotions,  however,  soon 
subsided  in  the  tender  melancholy  that  gradually  drew 
around  her  manner,  as  the  hour  for  the  departure  ap 
proached.  Nor  were  her  feelings  on  the  subject  of  Luis's 
ready  enlistment  in  the  expedition,  more  consistent.  At  times 
she  exulted  in  her  lover's  resolution,  and  in  his  manly  de 
votion  to  glory  and  the  good  of  the  church ;  remembering 
with  pride  that,  of  all  the  high  nobility  of  Castile,  he  alone 
ventured  life  and  credit  with  the  Genoese  ;  and  then,  again, 
tormenting  doubts  came  over  her,  as  she  feared  that  the 
love  of  roving,  and  of  adventure,  was  quite  as  active  in 
his  heart,  as  love  of  herself.  But,  in  all  this  there  was 
nothing  new.  The  more  pure  and  ingenuous  the  feelings 
of  those  who  truly  submit  to  the  influence  of  this  passion, 
the  more  keenly  alive  are  their  distrusts  apt  to  be,  and  the 
more  tormenting  their  misgivings  of  themselves. 

Her  mind  made  up,  Dofia  Beatriz  acted  fairly  by  the 
young  people.  As  soon  as  Luis  was  admitted  to  her  own 
presence,  on  the  appointed  morning,  she  told  him  that  he 
was  expected  by  Mercedes,  who  was  waiting  his  appear 
ance  in  the  usual  reception-room.  Scarce  giving  himself 
time  to  kiss  the  hand  of  his  aunt,  and  to  make  those  other 
demonstrations  of  respect  that  the  customs  of  the  age  re 
quired  from  the  young  to  their  seniors  —  more  especially 
when  there  existed  between  them  a  tie  of  blood  as  close  as 
that  which  united  the  Marchioness  of  Moya  with  the  Conde 
de  Llera  —  the  young  man  bounded  away,  and  was  soon 
in  the  presence  of  his  mistress.  As  Mercedes  was  prepared 
for  the  interview,  she  betrayed  the  feeling  of  the  moment 
merely  by  a  heightened  colour,  and  the  greater  lustre  of 
eyes  that  were  always  bright,  though  often  so  soft  and 
melancholy. 

"  Luis  !"  escaped  from  her,  and  then,  as  if  ashamed  of 
the  emotion  betrayed  in  the  very  tones  of  her  voice,  she 
withdrew  the  foot  that,  had  involuntarily  advanced  to  meet 
him,  even  while  she  kept  a  hand  extended  in  friendly  con 
fidence. 

"  Mercedes !"  and  the  hand  was  withdrawn  to  put  a  stop 
to  the  kisses  with  which  it  was  covered,  "  Thou  art  harder 
to  be  seen,  of  late,  than  it  will  be  to  discover  this  Cathay 


156  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

of  the  Genoese ;  for,  between  the  Dona  Isabella  and  Dona 
Beatriz,  never  was  paradise  watched  more  closely  by 
guardian  angels,  than  thy  person  is  watched  by  thy  pro- 
lectors." 

"And  can  it  be  necessary,  Luis,  when  thou  art  the  danger 
apprehended  ?" 

"  Do  they  think  I  shall  carry  thee  off,  like  some  Moorisk 
girl  borne  away  on  the  crupper  of  a  Christian  knight's  sad 
die,  and  place  thee  in  the  caravel  of  Colon,  that  we  may 
go  in  search  of  Prestor  John  and  the  Great  Khan,  in  com 
pany  ?" 

"  They  may  think  thee  capable  of  this  act  of  madness, 
dear  Luis,  but  they  will  hardly  suspect  me." 

"  No,  thou  art  truly  a  model  of  prudence  in  all  matters 
that  require  feeling  for  thy  lover." 

"  Luis !"  exclaimed  the  girl,  again ;  and  this  time  un 
bidden  tears  started  to  her  eyes. 

"  Forgive  me,  Mercedes — dearest,  dearest  Mercedes  ;  but 
this  delay  and  all  these  coldly  cruel  precautions  make  me 
forget  myself.  Am  I  a  needy  and  unknown  adventurer, 
that  they  treat  me  thus,  instead  of  being  a  noble  Castilian 
knight !" 

"  Thou  forgettest,  Luis,  that  noble  Castilian  maidens  are 
not  wont  to  see  even  noble  Castilian  cavaliers  alone,  and, 
but  for  the  gracious  condescension  of  Her  Highness,  and 
the  indulgence  of  my  guardian,  who  happeneth  to  be  thy 
aunt,  this  interview  could  not  take  place." 

"  Alone  ! — And  dost  thou  call  this  being  alone,  or  any 
excessive  favour  on  the  part  of  Her  Highness,  when  thou 
seest  *.hat  we  are  watched  by  the  eye,  if  not  by  the  ear  1  I 
fear  to  speak  above  my  breath,  lest  the  sounds  should  dis- 
'turb  that  venerable  lady's  meditations  !" 

As  Luis  de  Bobadilla  uttered  this,  he  glanced  his  eye  at 
the  figure  of  the  duena  of  his  mistress,  whose  person  was 
visible  through  an  open  door,  in  an  adjoining  room,  where 
the  good  woman  sate,  intently  occupied  in  reading  certain 
homilies. 

"Dost  mean  my  poor  Pepita,"  answered  Mercedes, 
laughing ;  for  the  presence  of  her  attendant,  to  whom  she 
had  been  accustomed  from  infancy,  was  no  more  restraint 
on  her  own  innocent  thoughts  and  words,  than  would  have 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  157 

proved  a  reduplication  of  herself,  had  such  a  thing  been 
possible.  "  Many  have  been  her  protestations  against  this 
meeting,  which  she  insists  is  contrary  to  all  rule  among 
noble  ladies,  and  which,  she  says,  would  never  have  been 
accorded  by  my  poor,  sainted,  mother,  were  she  still 
living." 

"Ay,  she  hath  a  look  that  is  sufficient  of  itself  to  set 
every  generous  mind  a-tilting  with  her.  One  can  see  envy 
of  thy  beauty  and  youth,  in  every  wrinkle  of  her  unarm- 
able  face." 

"  Then  little  dost  thou  know  my  excellent  Pepita,  who 
envieth  nothing,  and  who  hath  but  one  marked  weakness, 
and  that  is,  too  much  affection,  and  too  much  indulgence, 
for  myself." 

"  I  detest  a  duena ;  ay,  as  I  detest  an  Infidel !" 

"  Senor,"  said  Pepifa,  whose  vigilant  ears,  notwithstand 
ing  her  book  and  the  homilies,  heard  all  that  passed,  «« this 
is  a  common  feeling  among  youthful  cavaliers,  I  fear ;  but 
they  tell  me  that  the  very  duena  who  is  so  displeasing  to 
the' lover,  getteth  to  be  a  grateful  object,  in  time,  with  the 
husband.  As  my  features  and  wrinkles,  however,  are  so 
disagreeable  to  you,  and  no  doubt  cause  you  pain,  by 
closing  this  door  the  sight  will  be  shut  out,  as,  indeed,  will 
be  the  sound  of  my  unpleasant  cough,  and  of  your  own 
protestations  of  love,  Senor  Knight." 

This  was  said  in  much  better  language  than  was  com 
monly  used  by  women  of  the  duena's  class,  and  with  a 
good-nature  that  seemed  indomitable,  it  being  completely 
undisturbed  by  Luis's  petulant  remarks. 

"  Thou  shalt  not  close  the  door,  Pepita,"  cried  Mercedeo, 
blushing  rosy  red,  and  springing  forward  to  interpose  Ler 
own  hand  against  the  act.  "  What  is  there  that  the  Conde 
de  Llera  can  have  to  say  to  one  like  me,  that  thou  mayest 
not  hear?" 

"  Nay,  dear  child,  the  noble  cavalier  is  about  to  talk  of 
love !" 

"And  is  it  thou,  with  whom  the  language  of  affection  is 
so  uncommon,  that  it  frighteneth  thee !  Hath  thy  discourse 
been  of  aught  but  love,  since  thou  hast  known  and  cared 
forme?" 

14 


158  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"It  augureth  badly  for  thy  suit,  Senor,"  said  Pepita, 
smiling,  while  she  suspended  the  movement  of  the  hand 
that  was  about  to  close  the  door,  "  if  Dona  Mercedes 
thinketh  of  your  love  as  she  thinketh  of  mine.  Surely> 
child,  thou  dost  not  fancy  me  a  gay,  gallant  young  noble, 
come  to  pour  out  his  soul  at  thy  feet,  and  mistakest  my 
simple  words  of  affection  for  such  as  will  be  likely  to  flow 
from  the  honeyed  tongue  of  a  Bobadilla,  bent  on  gaining 
his  suit  with  the  fairest  maiden  of  Castile  ?" 

Mercedes  shrunk  back,  for,  though  innocent  as  purity 
itself,  her  heart  taught  her  the  difference  between  the  lan 
guage  of  her  lover  and  the  language  of  her  nurse,  even 
when  each  most  expressed  affection.  Her  hand  released  its 
hold  of  vthe  wood,  and  unconsciously  was  laid,  with  its 
pretty  fellow,  on  her  crimsoned  face.  Pepita  profited  by 
her  advantage,  and  closed  the  door.  A  smile  of  triumph 
gleamed  on  the  handsome  features  of  Luis,  and,  after  he  had 
forced  his  mistress,  by  a  gentle  compulsion,  to  resume  the 
seat  from  which  she  had  risen  to  meet  him,  he  threw  him- 
self  on  a  stool  at  her  feet,  and  stretching  out  his  well-turned 
limbs  in  an  easy  attitude,  so  as  to  allow  himself  to  gaze 
into  the  beautiful  face  that  he  had  set  up,  like  an  idol, 
before  him,  he  renewed  the  discourse. 

"  This  is  a  paragon  of  duenas,"  he  cried,  "  and  I  might 
have  known  that  none  of  the  ill-tempered,  unreasonable 
school  of  such  beings,  would  be  tolerated  near  thy  person. 
This  Pepita  is  a  jewel,  and  she  may  consider  herself  estab 
lished  in  her  office  for  life,  if,  by  the  cunning  of  this  Ge 
noese,  mine  own  resolution,  the  queen's  repentance,  and 
thy  gentle  favour,  I  ever  prove  so  lucky  as  to  become  thy 
husband." 

"  Thou  forgettest,  Luis,"  answered  Mercedes,  trembling 
even  while  she  laughed  at  her  own  conceit,  "  that  if  the 
husband  esteemeth  the  duena  the  lover  could  not  endure, 
that  the  lover  may  esteem  the  duena  that  the  husband  may 
be  unwilling  to  abide." 

"Peste!  these  are  crooked  matters,  and  ill-suited  to  the 
straight-forward  philosophy  of  Luis  de  Bobadilla.  There 
is  one  thing  only,  which  I  can,  or  do,  pretend  to  know,  out 
of  any  controversy,  and  that  I  am  ready  to  maintain  in  the 


MERCEDES    Off   CASTILE.  159 

face  of  all  the  doctors  of  Salamanca,  or  all  the  chivalry 
of  Christendom,  that  of  the  Infidel  included ;  which  is, 
that  thou  art  the  fairest,  sweetest,  best,  most  virtuous,  and 
in  all  things  the  most  winning  maiden  of  Spain,  and  that 
no  other  living  knight  so  loveth  and  honoureth  his  mistress 
as  I  love  and  honour  thee !" 

The  language  of  admiration  is  ever  soothing  to  female 
ears,  and  Mercedes,  giving  to  the  words  of  the  youth  an 
impression  of  sincerity  that  his  manner  fully  warranted, 
forgot  the  dueiia  and  her  little  interruption,  in  the  delight 
of  listening  to  declarations  that  were  so  grateful  to  her 
affections.  Still,  the  coyness  of  her  sex,  and  the  recent  date 
of  their  mutual  confidence,  rendered  her  answer  less  open 
than  it  might  otherwise  have  been. 

"  I  am  told,"  she  said,  "  that  you  young  cavaliers,  who 
pant  for  occasions  to  show  your  skill  and  courage  with 
the  lance,  and  in  the  tourney,  are  ever  making  some  such 
protestations  in  favour  of  this  or  that  noble  maiden,  in 
order  to  provoke  others  like  themselves  to  make  counter 
assertions,  that  they  may  show  their  prowess  as  knights, 
and  gain  high  names  for  gallantry." 

"  This  cometh  of  being  so  much  shut  up  in  Dona  Bea- 
triz's  private  rooms,  lest  some  bold  Spanish  eyes  should 
look  profanely  on  thy  beauty,  Mercedes.  We  are  not  in 
the  age  of  the  errants  and  the  troubadours,  when  men 
committed  a  thousand  follies  that  they  might  be  thought 
weaker  even  than  nature  had  made  them.  In  that  age, 
your  knights  discoursed  largely  of  love,  but  in  our  own 
they  feel  it.  In  sooth,  I  think  this  savoureth  of  some  of  the 
profound  morality  of  Pepita !" 

"  Say  nought  against  Pepita,  Luis,  who  hath  much  be 
friended  thee  to-day,  else  would  thy  tongue,  and  thine  eyes 
too,  be  under  the.  restraint  of  her  presence.  But  that  which 
thou  termest  the  morality  of  the  good  duena,  is,  in  truth, 
the  morality  of  the  excellent  and  most  noble  Dona  Bea- 
triz  de  Cabrera,  Marchioness  of  Moya,  who  was  born  a 
lady  of  the  House  of  Bobadilla,  I  believe." 

"  Well,  well,  I  dare  to  say  there  is  no  great  difference 
between  the  lessons  of  a  duchess  and  the  lessons  of  a  du 
ena,  in  the  privacy  of  the  closet,  when  there  is  one  like 
thee,  beautiful,  and  rich,  and  virtuous,  to  guard.  They  say 


160  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

you  young  maidens  are  told  that  we  cavaliers  are  so  many 
ogres,  and  that  the  only  way  to  reach  paradise  is  to  think 
nought  of  us  but  evil,  and  then,  when  some  suitable  mar 
riage  hath  been  decided  on,  the  poor  young  creature  is  sud 
denly  alarmed  by  an  order  to  conic  forth  and  be  wedded  to 
one  of  these  very  monsters." 

"  And,  in  this  mode,  hast  thou  been  treated  !  It  would 
seem  that  much  pains  are  taken  to  make  the  young  of  the 
two  sexes  think  ill  of  each  other.  But,  Luis,  this  is  pure 
idleness,  and  we  waste  in  it  most  precious  moments ;  mo 
ments  that  may  never  return.  How  go  matters  with  Colon 
—  and  when  is  he  like  to  quit  the  court?" 

"  He  hath  already  departed ;  for  having  obtained  all  he 
hath  sought  of  the  queen,  he  quitted  Santa  Fe,  with  the 
royal  authority  to  sustain  him  in  the  fullest  manner.  If 
thou  hearest  aught  of  one  Pedro  de  Munos,  or  Pero  Gu 
tierrez,  at  the  court  of  Cathay,  thou  wilt  know  on  whose 
shoulders  to  lay  his  follies." 

"  I  would  rather  that  thou  should'st  undertake  t-his  voy 
age  in  thine  own  name,  Luis,  than  under  a  feigned  appella 
tion.  Concealments  of  this  nature  are  seldom  wise,  and 
surely  thou  dost  not  undertake  the  enterprise" — the  tell-tale 
blood  stole  to  the  cheeks  of  Mercedes  as  she  proceeded  — 
"  with  a  motive  that  need  bring  shame." 

"  'T  is  the  wish  of  my  aunt ;  as  for  myself,  I  would  put 
thy  favour  in  my  casque,  thy  emblem  on  my  shield,  and  let 
it  be  known,  far  and  near,  that  Luis  of  Llera  sought  the 
court  of  Cathay  with  the  intent  to  defy  its  chivalry  to 
produce  as  fair  or  as  virtuous  a  maiden  as  thyself." 

"  We  are  not  in  the  age  of  errants,  sir  knight,  but  in 
one  of  reason  and  truth,"  returned  Mercedes,  laughing, 
hough  every  syllable  that  proved  the  earnest  and  entire 
devotion  of  the  young  man  went  directly  to  her  heart, 
strengthening  his  hold  on  it,  and  increasing  the  flame  that 
burnt  within,  by  adding  the  fuel  that  was  most  adapted  to 
that  purpose — "  we  are  not  in  the  age  of  knights-errant, 
Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  as  thou  thyself  hast  just  affirmed ; 
but  one  in  which  even  the  lover  is  reflecting,  and  as  apt  to 
discover  the  faults  of  his  lady-love,  as  to  dwell  upon  her 
perfections.  I  look  for  better  things  from  thee,  than  to  hear 
that  thou  hast  ridden  through  the  highways  of  Cathay, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  161 

defying  to  combat,  and  seeking  giants,  in  order  to  exalt  my 
beauty,  and  tempting  others  to  decry  it,  if  it  were  only  out 
of  pure  opposition  to  thy  idle  boastings.  Ah !  Luis,  thou 
art  now  engaged  in  a  most  truly  noble  enterprise,  one  that 
will  join  thy  name  to  those  of  the  applauded  of  men,  and 
which  will  form  thy  pride  and  exultation  in  after-life,  when 
the  eyes  of  us  bofh  shall  be  dimmed  by  age,  and  we  shall 
look  back  with  longings  to  discover  aught  of  which  to  be 
proud." 

It  was  thrice  pleasant  to  the  youth  to  hear  his  mistress, 
in  the  innocence  of  her  heart,  and  in  the  fulness  of  her 
feelings,  thus  uniting  his  fate  with  her  own ;  and  when  she 
ceased  speaking,  all  unconscious  how  much  might  be  indi 
rectly  implied  from  her  words,  he  still  listened  intently,  as 
if  he  would  fain  hear  the  sounds  after  they  had  died  on 
his  ear. 

"  What  enterprise  can  be  nobler,  more  worthy  to  awaken 
all  my  resolution,  than  to  win  thy  hand !"  he  exclaimed, 
after  a  short  pause.  "  I  follow  Colon  with  no  other  ob 
ject  ;  share  his  chances,  to  remove  the  objections  of  Dona 
Isabella ;  and  will  accompany  him  to  the  earth's  end, 
rather  than  that  thy  choice  should  be  dishonoured.  Thou 
art  my  Great  Khan,  beloved  Mercedes,  and  thy  smiles  and 
affection  are  the  only  Cathay  I  seek." 

"  Say  not  so,  dear  Luis,  for  thou  knowest  not  the  no 
bility  of  thine  own  soul,  nor  the  generosity  of  thine  own 
intentions.  This  is  a  stupendous  project  of  Colon's,  and 
much  as  I  rejoice  that  he  hath  had  the  imagination  to  con 
ceive  it,  and  the  heart  to  undertake  it  in  his  own  person,  on 
account  of  the  good  it  must  produce  to  the  heathen,  and 
the  manner  in  which  it  will  necessarily  redound  to  the  glory 
of  God,  still  I  fear  that  I  am  equally  gladdened  with  the 
recollection  that  thy  name  will  be  for  ever  associated  with 
the  great  achievement,  and  thy  detractors  put  to  shame 
with  the  resolution  and  spirit  with  which  so  noble  an  end 
will  have  been  attained." 

"  This  is  nothing  but  truth,  Mercedes,  should  we  reach 
the  Indies ;  but,  should  the  saints  desert  us,  and  our  project 
fail,  I  fear  that  even  thou  would'st  be  ashamed  to  confess 
an  interest  in  an  unfortunate  adventurer  who  hath  returned 
without  success,  and  thereby  made  himself  the  subject  of 
14* 


162  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

sneers  and  derision,  instead  of  wearing  the  honourable  dis 
tinction  that  thou  seemest  so  confidently  to  expect." 

"  Then,  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  thou  knowest  me  not,"  an 
swered  Mercedes,  hastily,  and  speaking  with  a  tender 
earnestness  that  brought  the  blood  into  her  cheeks,  gradu 
ally  brightening  the  brilliancy  of  her  eyes,  until  they  shone 
with  a  lustre  that  seemed  almost  supernatural — "  then,  Luis 
de  Bobadilla,  thou  knowest  me  not.  I  wish  thee  to  share 
in  the  glory  of  this  enterprise,  because  calumny  and  cen 
sure  have  not  been  altogether  idle  with  thy  youth,  and 
because  I  feel  that  Her  Highness's  favour  is  most  easily 
obtained  by  it  ,•  but,  if  thou  believest  that  the  spirit  to  en- 

fage  with  Colon  was  necessary  to  incline  me  to  think 
indly  of  my  guardian's  nephew,  thou  neither  understandest 
the  sentiments  that  draw  me  towards  thee,  nor  hast  a  just 
appreciation  of  the  hours  of  sorrow  I  have  suffered  on  thy 
account." 

"  Dearest,  most  generous,  noble-hearted  girl,  I  am  un 
worthy  of  thy  truth,  of  thy  pure  sincerity,  and  of  all  thy 
devoted  feelings !  Drive  me  from  thee,  at  once,  that  I  may 
ne'er  again  cause  thee  a  moment's  grief." 

"  Nay,  Luis,  thy  remedy,  I  fear  -me,  would  prove  worse 
Chan  the  disease  that  thou  would'st  cure,"  returned  the  beau 
tiful  girl,  smiling  and  blushing  as  she  spoke,  and  turning 
her  eloquent  eyes  on  the  youth  in  a  way  to  avow  volumes 
of  tenderness.  "  With  thee  must  I  be  happy,  or  unhappy, 
as  Providence  may  will  it ;  or  miserable  without  thee." 

The  conversation  now  took  that  unconnected,  and  yet  com 
prehensive  cast,  which  is  apt  to  characterize  the  discourse 
of  those  who  feel  as  much  as  they  reason,  and  it  covered 
more  interests,  sentiments,  and  events,  than  our  limits  will 
allow  us  to  record.  As  usual,  Luis  was  inconsistent,  jea 
lous,  repentant,  full  of  passion  and  protestations,  fancying 
a  thousand  evils  at  one  instant,  and  figuring  in  his  imagina 
tion  a  terrestrial  paradise  at  the  next ;  while  Mercedes  was 
enthusiastic,  generous,  devoted,  and  yet  high-principled, 
self-denying,  and  womanly  ;  meeting  her  ardent  suitor's 
vows  with  a  tenderness  that  seemed  to  lose  all  other  consi 
derations  in  her  love,  and  repelling  with  maiden  coyness, 
and  with  the  dignity  of  her  sex,  his  rhapsodies,  whenever 
they  touched  upon  the  exaggerated  and  indiscreet. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  163 

The  interview  lasted  an  hour,  and  it  is  scarce  necessary 
to  say  that  vows  of  constancy,  and  pledges  never  to  marry 
another,  were  given,  again  and  again.  As  the  time  for 
separating  approached,  Mercedes  opened  a  small  casket 
that  contained  her  jewels,  and  drew  forth  one  which  she 
offered  to  her  lover  as  a  gage  of  her  truth. 

«'  I  will  not  give  thee  a  glove  to  wear  in  thy  casque  at 
tourneys,  Luis,"  she  said,  "  but  I  offer  this  holy  symbol, 
which  may  remind  thee,  at  the  same  moment,  of  the  great 
pursuit  thou  hast  before  thee,  and  of  her  who  will  wait  its 
issue  with  doubts  and  fears  little  less  active  than  those  of 
Colon  himself.  Thou  need'st  no  other  crucifix  to  say  thy 
paters  before,  and  these  stones  are  sapphires,  which  thou 
knowest  are  the  tokens  of  fidelity  —  a  feeling  that  thou 
may'st  encourage  as  respects  thy  lasting  welfare,  and 
which  it  would  not  grieve  me  to  know  thou  kept'st  ever 
active  in  thy  bosom  when  thinking  of  the  unworthy  giver 
of  the  trifle." 

This  was  said  half  in  melancholy,  and  half  in  lightness 
of  heart,  for  Mercedes  felt  at  parting,  both  a  weight  of  sor 
row  that  was  hard  to  be  borne,  and  a  buoyancy  of  the  very 
feeling  to  which  she  had  just  alluded,  that  much  disposed 
her  to  smile ;  and  it  was  said  with  those  winning  accents 
with  which  the  youthful  and  tender  avow  their  emotions, 
when  the  heart  is  subdued  by  the  thoughts  of  absence  and 
dangers.  The  gift  was  a  small  cross,  formed  of  the  stones 
she  had  named,  and  of  great  intrinsic  value,  as  well  as 
precious  from  the  motives  and  character  of  her  who 
offered  it. 

"  Thou  hast  had  a  care  of  my  soul,  in  this,  Mercedes," 
said  Luis,  smiling,  when  he  had  kissed  the  jewelled  cross 
again  and  again — "  and  art  resolved  if  the  sovereign  of 
Cathay  should  refuse  to  be  converted  to  our  faith,  that  we 
shall  not  be  converted  to  his.  I  fear  that  my  offering  will 
appear  tame  and  valueless  in  thine  eyes,  after  so  precious 
a  boon." 

"  One  lock  of  thy  hair,  Luis,  is  all  I  desire.  Thou 
knowest  that  I  have  no  need  of  jewels." 

"  If  I  thought  the  sight  of  my  bushy  head  would  give 
thee  pleasure,  every  hair  shoald  quit  it,  and  I  would  sail 
from  Spain  with  a  poll  as  naked  as  a  priest's,  or  even  an 


164  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Infidel's ;  but  the  Bobadillas  have  their  jewels,  and  a  Bo- 
badilla's  bride  shall  wear  them :  this  necklace  was  my 
mother's,  Mercedes ;  it  is  said  to  have  once  been  the  pro 
perty  of  a  queen,  though  none  have  ever  worn  it  who  will 
so  honour  it  as  thou." 

"  I  take  it,  Luis,  for  it  is  thy  offering  and  may  not  be 
refused ;  and  yet  I  take  it  tremblingly,  for  I  see  signs  of 
our  different  natures  in  these  gifts.  Thou  hast  chosen  the 
gorgeous  and  the  brilliant,  which  pall  in  time,  and  seldom 
lead  to  contentment ;  while  my  woman's  heart  hath  led  me 
to  constancy.  I  fear  some  brilliant  beauty  of  the  East 
would  better  gain  thy  lasting  admiration  than  a  poor  Cas- 
tilian  maid  who  hath  little  but  her  faith  and  love  to  recom 
mend  her !" 

Protestations  on  the  part  of  the  young  man  followed,  and 
Mercedes  permitted  one  fond  and  long  embrace  ere  they 
separated.  She  wept  on  the  bosom  of  Don  Luis,  and  at 
the  final  moment  of  parting,  as  ever  happens  with  woman, 
feeling  got  the  better  of  form,  and  her  whole  soul  con 
fessed  its  weakness.  At  length  Luis  tore  himself  away 
from  her  presence,  and  that  night  he  was  on  his  way  to 
the  coast,  under  an  assumed  name,  and  in  simple  guise ; 
whither  Columbus  had  already  preceded  him. 


CHAPTER  XL 

"But  where  is  Harold?     Shall  I  then  forget 
To  urge  the  gloomy  wanderer  o'er  the  wave? 
Little  reck'd  he  of  all  that  men  regret ; 
No  loved-one  now  in  feign'd  lament  could  rave; 
No  friend  the  parting  hand  extended  gave 
Ere  the  cold  stranger  pass'd  to  other  climes." 

BYRON.  v' 

THE  reader  is  not  to  suppose  that  the  eyes  of  Europe 
were  on  our  adventurers.  Truth  and  falsehood,  inseparable 
companions,  it  would  seem,  throughout  all  time,  were  noJ 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  165 

then  diffused  over  the  land  by  means  of  newspapers, 
with  mercenary  diligence ;  and  it  was  only  the  favoured 
few  who  got  early  intelligence  of  enterprises  like  that  in 
which  Columbus  was  engaged.  Luis  de  Bobadilla  had, 
therefore,  stolen  from  court  unnoticed,  and  they  who  came 
in  time  to  miss  his  presence,  either  supposed  him  to  be  on 
a  visit  to  one  of  his  castles,  or  to  have  gone  forth  on  an 
other  of  those  wandering  tours  which  were  supposed  to  be 
blemishes  on  his  chivalry  and  unworthy  of  his  birth.  As 
for  the  Genoese  himself,  his  absence  was  scarcely  heeded, 
though  it  was  understood  among  the  courtiers  generally, 
that  Isabella  had  entered  into  some  arrangement  with  him, 
which  gave  the  adventurer  higher  rank  and  greater  advan 
tages  than  his  future  services  would  probably  ever  justify. 
The  other  principal  adventurers  were  too  insignificant  to 
attract  much  attention,  and  they  had  severally  departed  for 
the  coast  without  the  knowledge  of  their  movements  ex 
tending  far  beyond  the  narrow  circles  of  their  own  ac 
quaintances.  Neither  was  this  expedition,  so  bold  in  its 
conception  and  so  momentous  in  its  consequences,  destined 
to  sail  from  one  of  the  more  important  ports  of  Spain  ;  but 
orders  to  furnish  the  necessary  means  had  been  sent  to  a 
haven  of  altogether  inferior  rank,  and  which  would  seem 
to  have  possessed  no  other  recommendations  for  this  par 
ticular  service,  than  hardy  mariners,  and  a  position  without 
the  pass  of  Gibraltar,  which  was  sometimes  rendered  haz 
ardous  by  the  rovers  of  Africa.  The  order,  however,  is 
said  to  have  been  issued  to  the  place  selected,  in  conse 
quence  of  its  having  incurred  some  legal  penalty,  by  which 
it  had  been  condemned  to  serve  the  crown  for  a  twelve 
month  with  two  armed  caravels.  Such  punishments,  it 
would  seem,  were  part  of  the  policy  of  an  age  in  which 
navies  were  little  more  than  levies  on  sea-ports,  and  when 
fleets  were  usually  manned  by  soldiers  from  the  (and. 

Palos  de  Moguer,  the  place  ordered  to  pay  this  tribute 
for  its  transgression,  was  a  town  of  little  importance,  even  at 
the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  it  has  since  dwindled 
to  an  insignificant  fishing  village.  Like  most  places  that 
are  little  favoured  by  nature,  its  population  was  hardy  and 
adventurous,  as  adventure  was  then  limited  by  ignorance. 
It  possessed  no  stately  caracks,  its  business  and  want  of 


166  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

opulence  confining  all  its  efforts  to  the  lighter  caravel  and 
the  still  more  diminutive  felucca.  All  the  succour,  indeed, 
that  Columbus  had  been  able  to  procure  from  the  two 
crowns,  by  his  protracted  solicitations,  was  the  order  for 
the  equipment  of  the  two  caravels  mentioned,  with  the 
additional  officers  and  men  that  always  accompanied  a 
royal  expedition.  The  reader,  however,  is  not  to  infer  from 
this  fact  any  niggardliness  of  spirit,  or  any  want  of  faith, 
on  the  part  of  Isabella.  It  was  partly  owing  to  the  ex 
hausted  condition  of  her  treasury,  a  consequence  of  the 
late  war  with  the  Moor,  and  more,  perhaps,  to  the  expe 
rience  and  discretion  of  the  great  navigator  himself,  who 
well  understood  that,  for  the  purposes  of  discovery,  vessels 
of  this  size  would  be  more  useful  and  secure  than  those 
that  were  larger. 

On  a  rocky  promontory,  at  a  distance  of  less  than  a 
league  from  the  village  of  Palos,  stood  the  convent  of  La 
Rabida,  since  rendered  so  celebrated  by  its  hospitality  to 
Columbus.  At  the  gate  of  this  building,  seven  years  be 
fore,  the  navigator,  leading  his  youthful  son  by  the  hand, 
had  presented  himself,  a  solicitor  for  food  in  behalf  of  the 
wearied  boy.  The  story  is  too  well  known  to  need  repeti 
tion  here,  and  we  will  merely  add  that  his  long  residence 
in  this  convent,  and  the  firm  friends  he  had  made  of 
the  holy  Franciscans  who  occupied  it,  as  well  as  among 
others  in  their  vicinity,  were  also  probably  motives  that 
influenced  him  in  directing  the  choice  of  the  crown  to  this 
particular  place.  Columbus  had  not  only  circulated  his 
opinions  with  the  monks,  but  with  the  more  intelligent 
of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  first  converts  he  made  in 
Spain  were  at  this  place. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  circumstances  named,  the  order 
of  the  crown  to  prepare  the  caravels  in  question,  spread 
consternation  among  the  mariners  of  Palos.  In  that  age, 
it  was  thought  a  wonderful  achievement  to  follow  the  land, 
along  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  to  approach  the  equator. 
The  vaguest  notions  existed  in  the  popular  mind,  concerning 
those  unknown  regions,  and  many  even  believed  that  by 
journeying  south  it  was  possible  to  reach  a  portion  of  the 
earth  where  animal  and  vegetable  life  must  cease  on  ac 
count  of  the  intense  heat  of  the  sun.  The  revolutions  of 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  167 

the  planets,  the  diurnal  motion  of  the  earth,  and  the  causes 
j  of  the  changes  in  the  seasons,  were  then  profound  myste 
ries  even  to  the  learned ;  or,  if  glimmerings  of  the  truth 
did  exist,  they  existed  as  the  first  rays  of  the  dawn  dimly 
and  hesitatingly  announce  the  approach  of  day.  It  is  not 
surprising,  therefore,  that  the  simple-minded  and  unlettered 
mariners  of  Palos  viewed  the  order  of  the  crown  as  a  sen 
tence  of  destruction  on  all  who  might  be  fated  to  obey  it. 
The  ocean,  when  certain  limits  were  passed,  was  thought 
to  be,  like  the  firmament,  a  sort  of  chaotic  void ;  and  the 
imaginations  of  the  ignorant  had  conjured  up  currents  and 
whirlpools  that  were  believed  to  lead  to  fiery  climates  and 
frightful  scenes  of  natural  destruction.  Some  even  fancied 
it  possible  to  reach  the  uttermost  boundaries  of  the  earth, 
and  to  slide  off  into  vacuum,  by  means  of  swift  but  im 
perceptible  currents. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  in  the  middle  of  the  month 
of  July.  Columbus  was  still  in  the  convent  of  Rabida, 
in  the  company  of  his  constant  friend  and  adherent,  Fray 
Juan  Perez,  when  a  lay  brother  came  to  announce  that  a 
stranger  had  arrived  at  the  gate,  asking  earnestly  for  the 
Senor  Christoval  Colon. 

"  Hath  he  the  aspect  of  a  messenger  from  the  court  ?" 
demanded  the  navigator ;  "  for,  since  the  failure  of  the 
mission  of  Juan  de  Penalosa,  there  is  need  of  further  or 
ders  from  their  Highnesses  to  enforce  their  gracious  inten 
tions." 

"  I  think  not,  Senor,"  answered  the  lay  brother ;  "  these 
hard-riding  couriers  of  the  queen  generally  appearing  with 
their  steeds  in  a  foam,  and  with  hurried  air  and  blus 
tering  voices ;  whereas  this  young  cavalier  behaveth  mo 
destly,  and  rideth  a  stout  Andalusian  mule." 

"  Did  he  give  thee  his  name,  good  Sancho  ?" 

"  He  gave  me  two,  Senor,  styling  himself  Pedro  de  Mu- 
nos,  or  Pero  Gutierrez,  without  the  Don." 

"This  is  well,"  exclaimed  Columbus,  turning  a  little 
quickly  towards  the  door,  but  otherwise  maintaining  a  per 
fect  self-command ;  "  I  expect  the  youth,  and  he  is  right 
Welcome.  Let  him  come  in  at  once,  good  Sancho,  and 
daat  without  any  useless  ceremony." 


168  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

« An  acquaintance  of  the  court,  Senor  ?"  observed  the 
prior,  in  the  way  one  indirectly  asks  a  question. 

"A  youth  that  hath  the  spirit,  father,  to  adventure  life 
and  character  for  the  glory  of  God,  through  the  advance 
ment  of  his  church,  by  embarking  in  our  enterprise.  He 
cometh  of  a  reputable  lineage,  and  is  not  without  the  gifts 
of  fortune.  But  for  the  care  of  guardians,  and  his  own 
youth,  gold  would  net  have  been  wanting  in  our  need.  As 
it  is,  he  ventureth  his  own  person,  if  one  can  be  said  to  risk 
aught  in  an  expedition  that  seemeth  truly  to  set  even  the 
orders  of  their  Highnesses  at  defiance." 

As  Columbus  ceased  speaking,  the  door  opened  and  Luis 
de  Bobadilla  entered.  The  young  grandee  had  laid  aside 
all  the  outward  evidences  of  his  high  rank,  and  now  ap 
peared  in  the  modest  guise  of  a  traveller  belonging  to  a 
class  more  likely  to  furnish  a  recruit  for  the  voyage,  than 
one  of  the  rank  he  really  was.  Saluting  Columbus  with 
cordial  and  sincere  respect,  and  the  Franciscan  with  hum 
ble  deference,  the  first  at  once  perceived  that  this  gallant 
and  reckless  spirit  had  truly  engaged  in  the  enterprise 
with  a  determination  to  use  all  the  means  that  would  enable 
him  to  go  through  with  it. 

"Thou  art  welcome,  Pedro,"  Columbus  observed,  as 
soon  as  Luis  had  made  his  salutations ;  "  thou  hast  reached 
the  coast  at  a  moment  when  thy  presence  and  support  may 
be  exceedingly  useful.  The  first  order  of  Her  Highness, 
by  which  I  should  have  received  the  services  of  the  two 
caravels  to  which  the  state  is  entitled,  hath  been  utterly 
disregarded;  and  a  second  mandate,  empowering  me  to 
seize  upon  any  vessel  that  may  suit  our  necessities,  hath 
fared  but  little  better,  notwithstanding  the  Senor  de  Pena- 
losa  was  sent  directly  from  court  to  enforce  its  conditions, 
under  a  penalty,  to  the  port,  of  paying  a  daily  tax  of  two 
hundred  maravedis,  until  the  order  should  be  fulfilled.  The 
idiots  have  conjured  all  sorts  of  ills  with  which  to  terrify 
themselves  and  their  neighbours,  and  I  seem  to  be  as  far 
fiom  the  completion  of  my  hopes  as  I  was  before  I  pro 
cured  the  friendship  of  this  holy  friar  and  the  royal  pro 
tection  of  Dona  Isabella.  It  is  a  weary  thing,  my  good 
Pedro,  to  waste  a  life  in  hopes  defeated,  with  such  an 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  169 

object  in  view  as  the  spread  of  knowledge  and  the  exten 
sion  of  the  church  !" 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  good  tidings,  Senor,"  answered  the 
young  noble.  "  In  coming  hither  from  the  town  of  Moguer, 
I  journeyed  with  one  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  a  mariner 
with  whom  I  have  formerly  voyaged,  and  we  have  had 
much  discourse  concerning  your  commission  and  difficul 
ties.  He  tells  me  that  he  is  known  to  you,  Senor  Colon, 
and  I  should  judge  from  his  discourse  that  he  thinketh 
favourably  of  the  chances." 

"  He  doth— he  doth,  indeed,  good  Pedro,  and  hath  often 
listened  to  my  reasoning  like  a  discreet  and  skilful  navi 
gator,  as,  I  make  no  question,  he  really  is.  But  didst  thou 
say  that  thou  wast  known  to  him  ?" 

"Senor,  I  did.  We  have  voyaged  together  as  far  as 
Cyprus,  on  one  occasion,  and,  again,  to  the  island  of  the 
English.  In  such  long  voyages,  men  get  to  some  know 
ledge  of  each  other's  temperament  and  disposition,  and,  of 
a  sooth,  I  think  well  of  both,  in  this  Senor  Pinzon." 

"  Thou  art  young  to  pass  an  opinion  on  a  mariner  of 
Martin  Alonzo's  years  and  experience,  son,"  put  in  the 
friar ;  "  a  man  of  much  repute  in  this  vicinity,  and  of  no 
little  wealth.  Nevertheless,  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  that  he 
continueth  of  the  same  mind  as  formerly,  in  relation  to  the 
great  voyage ;  for,  of  late,  I  did  think  even  he  had  begun 
to  waver." 

Don  Luis  had  expressed  himself  of  the  great  man  of  the 
vicinity,  more  like  a  Bobadilla  than  became  his  assumed 
name  of  Munos,  and  a  glance  from  the  eye  of  Columbus 
told  him  to  forget  his  rank  and  to  remember  the  disguise  he 
Ijad  assumed. 

"This  is  truly  encouraging,"  observed  the  navigator, 
"  and  openeth  a  brighter  view  of  Cathay.  Thou  wast  jour 
neying  between  Moguer  and  Palos,  I  think  thou  saidst, 
when  this  discourse  was  had  with  our  acquaintance,  the 
good  Martin  Alonzo?" 

"  I  was,  Senor,  and  it  was  he  who  sent  me  hither  in  quest 
of  the  admiral.  He  gave  you  the  title  that  the  queen's 
favour  hath  bestowed,  and  I  consider  that  no  small  sign  of 
friendship,  as  most  others  with  whom  I  have  conversed  in 
this  vicinity  seem  disposed  to  call  you  by  any  other  name." 


170  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  None  need  embark  in  this  enterprise,"  returned  the 
navigator,  gravely,  as  if  he  would  admonish  the  youth  that 
this  was  an  occasion  on  which  he  might  withdraw  from  the 
adventure,  if  he  saw  fit,  "  who  feel  disposed  to  act  differ 
ently,  or  who  distrust  my  knowledge." 

"  By  San  Pedro,  my  patron !  they  tell  another  tale  at 
Palos,  and  at  Moguer,  Senor  Amirale,"  returned  Luis, 
laughing ;  "  at  which  places,  I  hear,  that  no  man  whose 
skin  hath  been  a  little  warmed  by  the  sun  of  the  ocean, 
dare  show  himself  in  the  highways,  lest  he  be  sent  to  Ca 
thay  by  a  road  that  no  one  ever  yet  travelled,  except  in 
fancy !  There  is,  notwithstanding,  one  free  and  willing 
volunteer,  Senor  Colon,  who  is  disposed  to  follow  you  to 
the  edge  of  the  earth,  if  it  be  flat,  and  to  follow  you  quite 
round  it,  should  it  prove  to  be  a  sphere ;  and  that  is  one 
Pedro  de  Mufios,  who  engageth  with  you  from  no  sordid 
love  of  gold,  or  love  of  aught  else  that  men  usually  prize ; 
but  from  the  pure  love  of  adventure,  somewhat  excited  and 
magnified,  perhaps,  by  love  of  the  purest  and  fairest  maid 
of  Castile." 

Fray  Juan  Perez  gazed  at  the  speaker,  whose  free  man 
ner  and  open  speech  a  good  deal  surprised  him ;  for  Co 
lumbus  had  succeeded  in  awakening  so  much  respect  that 
few  presumed  to  use  any  levity  in  his  presence,  even  before 
he  was  dignified  by  the  high  rank  so  recently  conferred  by 
the  commrssion  of  Isabella.  Little  did  the  good  monk  sus 
pect  that  one  of  a  still  higher  personal  rank,  though  en 
tirely  without  official  station,  stood  before  him,  in  the  guise 
of  Pedro  de  Munos ;  and  he  could  not  refrain  from  again 
expressing  the  little  relish  he  felt  for  such  freedom  of  speech 
and  deportment  towards  those  whom  he  himself  habitually 
regarded  with  so  much  respect. 

"It  would  seem,  Senor  Pedro  de  Munos,"  he  said,  "if 
that  be  thy  name  —  though  Duke,  or  Marquis,  or  Count, 
would  be  a  title  better  becoming  thy  bearing  —  that  thou 
treatest  His  Excellency  the  Admiral  with  quite  as  much 
freedom  of  thought,  at  least,  as  thou  treatest  the  worthy 
Martin  Alonzo  of  our  own  neighbourhood  :  a  follower 
should  be  more  humble,  and  not  pass  his  jokes  on  the 
opinions  of  his  leader,  in  this  loose  style  of  expression." 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  holy  father,  and  that  of  the  ad 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  171 

miral,  too,  who  better  understandeth  me  I  trust,  if  there  be 
any  just  grounds  of  offence.  All  I  wish  to  express  is,  that 
I  know  this  Martin  Alonzo  of  your  neighbourhood,  as  an 
old  fellow- voyager;  that  we  have  ridden  some  leagues  in 
company  this  very  day,  and  that,  after  close  discourse,  he 
hath  manifested  a  friendly  desire  to  put  his  shoulder  to  the 
wheel,  in  order  to  lift  the  expedition,  if  not  from  a  slough 
of  mud,  at  least  from  the  sands  of  the  river ;  and  that  he 
hath  promised  to  come  also  to  this  good  convent  of  La  Ra- 
bida,  for  that  same  purpose  and  no  other.  As  for  myself, 
I  can  only  add,  that  here  I  am,  ready  to  follow  wheresoever 
the  honourable  Seiior  Colon  may  see  fit  to  lead." 

"  'T  is  well,  good  Pedro — 't  is  well,"  rejoined  the  admiral. 
"  I  give  thee  full  credit  for  sincerity  and  spirit,  and  that 
must  content  thee  until  an  opportunity  offereth  to  convince 
others.  I  like  these  tidings  concerning  Martin  Alonzo, 
father,  since  he  might  truly  do  us  much  service,  and  his 
zeal  had  assuredly  begun  to  flag." 

"  That  might  he,  and  that  will  he,  if  he  engageth  se 
riously  in  the  affair.  Martin  is  the  greatest  navigator  on 
all  this  coast,  for,  though  I  did  not  know  that  he  had  ever 
been  even  to  Cyprus,  as  would  appear  by  the  account  of 
this  youth,  I  was  well  aware  that  he  had  frequently  sailed 
as  far  north  as  France  and  as  far  south  as  the  Canaries. 
Dost  think  Cathay  much  more  remote  than  Cyprus,  Senoi 
Almirante?" 

Columbus  smiled  at  this  question,  and  shook  his  head  in 
the  manner  of  one  who  would  prepare  a  friend  for  some 
sore  disappointment. 

"Although  Cyprus  be  not  distant  from  the  Holy  Land, 
and  the  seat  of  the  Infidel's  power,"  he  answered,  "  Cathay 
must  lie  much  more  remote.  I  flatter  not  myself,  nor  those 
who  are  disposed  to  follow  me,  with  the  hope  of  reaching 
the  Indies  short  of  a  voyage  that  shall  extend  to  some 
eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  leagues." 

"'Tis  a  fearful  and  a  weary  distance !"  exclaimed  the 
Franciscan  ;  while  Luis  stood  in  smiling  unconcern,  equally 
indifferent  whether  he  had  to  traverse  one  thousand  or  ten 
thousand  leagues  of  ocean,  so  that  the  journey  led  to  Mer 
cedes  and  was  productive  of  adventure.  "  A  fearful  and 
weary  distance,  and  yet  I  doubt  not,  Senor  Almirante,  that 


172  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

you  are  the  very  man  designed  by  Providence  to  overcome 
it,  and  to  open  the  way  for  those  who  will  succeed  you, 
bearing  on  high  the  cross  of  Christ  and  the  promises  of 
his  redemption !" 

"Let  .s  K«*8  this,"  returned  Columbus,  reverently 
making  the  usua!  sign  of  the  sacred  emblem  to  which  his 
friend  alkvled ;  "  a?  a  proof  that  we  have  some  worldly 
foundation  for  the  expectation,  here  cometh  the  Senor  Pin- 
zon  himself,  apparently  hot  with  haste  to  see  us." 

Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  whose  name  is  so  familiar  to  the 
reader,  as  one  who  greatly  aided  the  Genoese  in  his  vast 
undertaking,  now  entered  the  room,  seemingly  earnest  and 
bent  on  some  fixed  purpose,  as  Columbus's  observant  eye 
had  instantly  detected.  Fray  Juan  Perez  was  not  a  little 
surprised  to  see  that  the  first  salutation  of  Martin  Alonzo, 
the  great  man  of  the  neighbourhood,  was  directed  to  Pedro, 
the  second  to  the  admiral,  and  the  third  to  himself.  There 
was  not  time,  however,  for  the  worthy  Franciscan,  who 
was  a  little  apt  to  rebuke  any  dereliction  of  decency  on 
the  spot,  to  express  what  he  felt  on  this  occasion,  ere  Mar 
tin  Alonzo  opened  his  errand  with  an  eagerness  that  showed 
he  had  not  come  on  a  mere  visit  of  friendship,  or  of  cere 
mony. 

"  I  a;,i  sorely  vexed,  Sefior  Almirante,"  he  commenced, 
"  at  learning  the  obstinacy,  and  the  disobedience  to  the 
orders  of  the  queen,  that  have  been  shown  among  our 
mariners  of  Palos.  Although  a  dweller  of  the  port  itself, 
and  one  who  hath  always  viewed  your  opinions  of  this 
western  voyage  with  respect,  if  not  with  absolute  faith,  I 
did  not  know  the  full  extent  of  this  insubordination  until  I 
met,  by  accident,  an  old  acquaintance  on  the  high-way,  in 
the  person  of  Don  Pedro — I  ought  to  say  the  Senor  Pedro 
de  Munos,  here,  who,  coming  from  a  distance,  as  he  doth, 
hath  discovered  more  of  our  backslidings  than  I  had 
learned  myself,  on  the  spot.  But,  Senor,  you  are  not  now 
to  hear,  for  the  first  time,  of  what  sort  of  stuff  men  are 
made.  They  are  reasoning  beings,  we  are  told.f  notwith 
standing  which  undeniable  truth,  as  there  is  not  one  in  a 
hundred  who  is  at  the  trouble  to  do  his  own  thinking, 
means  may  be  found  to  change  the  opinions  of  a  sufficient 


MERCEDES    OF    CAfeTILE.  173 

number  for  all  your  wants,  without  their  even   suspect- 
ing  it." 

"  This  is  very  true,  neighbour  Martin  Alcnzo,"  put  in 
the  friar — "  so  true,  that  it  might  go  into  a  homily  and  do 
no  disservice  to  religion.  Man  is  a  rational  animaf,  and  an 
accountable  animal,  but  it  is  not  meet  that  he  should  be  a 
thinking  animal.  In  matters  of  the  church,  now,  its  inte 
rests  being  entrusted  to  a  ministry,  what  have  the  unlearned 
and  ignorant  to  say  of  its  affairs?  In  matters  of  naviga 
tion,  it  doth,  indeed,  seem  as  if  one  steersman  were  better 
than  a  hundred!  -Although  man  be  a  reasoning  animal, 
there  are  quite  as  many  occasions  when  he  is  bound  to 
obey  without  reasoning,  and  few  when  he  should  be  per 
mitted  to  reason  without  obeying." 

"All  true,  holy  friar  and  "most  excellent  neighbour;  so 
true  that  you  will  find  no  one  in  Palos  to  deny  that,  at  least. 
And  now  we  are  on  the  subject,  I  may  as  well  add  that  it 
is  the  church  that  hath  thrown  more  obstacles  in  the  way 
of  the  Senor  Almirante'*  success,  than  any  other  cause.  All 
the  old  women  of  f;hc  port  declare  that  the  notion  of  the 
earth's  being  roand  is  a  heresy,  and  contrary  to  the  Bible ; 
and,  if  the  iru'h  must  be  said,  there  are  not  a  few  under 
lings  of  this  very  convent,  who  uphold  them  in  the  opinion. 
It  doth  appear  unnatural  to  tell  one  who  hath  never  quitted 
the  land,  and  who  seeth  himself  much  oftener  in  a  valley 
than  on  an  eminence,  that  the  globe  is  round,  and,  though 
I  have  had  many  occasions  to  see  the  ocean,  it  would  not 
easily  find  credit  wit'  me,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  we 
see  the  upper  and  smaller  sails  of  a  ship  first,  when  ap 
proaching  her,  as  well  as  the  vanes  and  crosses  of  towns, 
albeit  they  are  the  smaller  objects  about  vessels  and 
churches.  We  mariners  have  one  way  to  inspirit  our  fol 
lowers,  and  you  churchmen  have  another ;  and,  now  that  I 
intend  to  use  my  means  to  put  wiser  thoughts  into  the  heads 
of  the  seamen  of  Palos,  reverend  friar,  Hook  to  you  to  set 
the  church's  engines  at  work,  so  as  to  silence  the  women, 
and  to  quell  the  doubts  of  the  most  zealous  among  your 
own  brotherhood." 

"Am  I  to  understand  by  this,  Senor  Pinzon,"  demanded 
Columbus,  "tha".  you  intend  to  take  a  direct  and  more 
15 


174  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

earnest  interest  than  before  in  the  success  of  my  enter 
prise  ?" 

"  Senor,  you  may.  That  is  my  intention,  if  we  can 
come  to  as  favourable  an  understanding  about  the  terms, 
as  your  worship  would  seem  to  have  entered  into  with  our 
most  honoured  mistress  Dona  Isabella  deTrastamara.  I  have 
had  some  discourse  with  Senor  Don — I  would  say  with 
the  Senor  Pedro  de  Munos,  here, — odd1s  folly,  an  excess 
of  courtes)''  is  getting  to  be  a  vice  with  me  of  late — but  as 
he  is  a  youth  of  prudence,  and  manifests  a  desire  to  em 
bark  with  you,  it  hath  stirred  my  fancy  so  far,  that  I  would 
gladly  be  of  the  party.  Senor  de  Munos  and  I  have  voyaged 
so  much  together,  that  I  would  fain  see  his  worthy  counte 
nance  once  more  upon  the  ocean." 

"  These  are  cheerful  tidings,  Martin  Alonzo" — eagerly 
put  in  the  friar,  "  and  thy  soul,  and  the  souls  of  all  who 
belong  to  you,  will  reap  the  benefits  of  this  manly  and  pious 
resolution.  It  is  one  thing,  Senor  Almirante,  to  have  their 
Highnesses  of  your  side,  in  a  place  like  Palos,  and  another 
to  have  our  worthy  neighbour  Pinzon,  here  ;  for,  if  they  are 
sovereigns  in  law,  he  is  an  emperor  in  opinion.  I  doubt 
not  that  the  caravels  will  now  be  speedily  forthcoming." 

"  Since  thou  seemest  to  have  truly  resolved  to  enter  into 
our  enterprise,  Senor  Martin  Alonzo,"  added  Columbus, 
with  his  dignified  gravity,  "  out  of  doubt,  thou  hast  well 
bethought  thee  of  the  conditions,  and  art  come  prepared  to 
let  them  be  known.  Do  they  savour  of  the  terms  that  have 
already  been  in  discussion  between  us?" 

"  Senor  Admiral,  they  do  ;  though  gold  is  not,  just  now, 
as  abundant  in  our  purses,  as  when  we  last  discoursed  on 
this  subject.  On  that  head,  some  obstacles  may  exist,  but 
on  all  others,  I  doubt  not,  a  brief  explanation  between  us, 
will  leave  the  matter  free  from  doubt." 

"As  to  the  eighth,  for  which  I  stand  committed  with  their 
Highnesses,  Senor  Pinzon,  there  will  be  less  reason,  now, 
to  raise  that  point  between  us,  than  when  we  last  met,  as 
other  means  may  offer  to  redeem  that  pledge" — as  Colum 
bus  spoke,  his  eyes  involuntarily  turned  towards  the  pre 
tended  Pero,  whither  those  of  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  signifi 
cantly  followed ;  "  but  there  will  be  many  difficulties  to 
overcome  with  these  terrified  and  silly  mariners,  which 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  176 

may  yield  to  thy  influence.  If  thou  wilt  come  with  me 
into  this  chamber,  we  will  at  once  discuss  the  heads  of  our 
treaty,  leaving  this  youth,  the  while,  to  the  hospitality  of 
our  reverend  friend." 

The  prior  raising  no  objection  to  this  proposition,  it 
was  immediately  put  in  execution,  Columbus  and  Pinzon 
withdrawing  to  a  more  private  apartment,  leaving  Fray 
Juan  Perez  alone  with  our  hero. 

"  Then  thou  thinkest  seriously,  son,  of  making  one  in 
this  great  enterprise  of  the  admiral's,"  said  the  Franciscan, 
as  soon  as  the  door  was  closed  on  those  who  had  just  left 
them,  eyeing  Luis,  for  the  first  time,  with  a  more  strict 
scrutiny  than  hitherto  he  had  leisure  to  exercise.  "  Thou 
earnest  thyself  much  like  the  young  lords  of  the  court, 
and  wilt  have  occasion  to  acquire  a  less  towering  air  in  the 
narrow  limits  of  one  of  our  Palos  caravels." 

"  I  am  no  stranger  to  Nao,  Carraca,  Fusta,  Pinaza,  Ca- 
rabelon,  or  Felucca,  holy  prior,  and  shall  carry  myself 
with  the  admiral,  as  I  should  carry  myself  before  Don 
Fernando  of  Aragon,  were  he  my  fellow-voyager,  or  in  the 
presence  of  Boabdil  of  Grenada,  were  that  unhappy  mon 
arch  again  seated  on  the  throne  from  which  he  hath  been 
so  lately  hurled,  urging  his  chivalry  to  charge  the  knights 
of  Christian  Spain." 

"  These  are  fine  words,  son,  ay,  and  uttered  with  a  tilt 
ing  air,  if  truth  must  be  said ;  but  they  will  avail  thee  no 
thing  with  this  Genoese,  who  hath  that  in  him,  that  would 
leave  him  unabashed  even  in  the  presence  of  our  gracious 
lady,  Dona.  Isabella,  herself." 

"  Thou  knowest  the  queen,  holy  monk  ?"  inquired  Luis, 
forgetting  his  assumed  character,  in  the  freedom  of  his  ad 
dress. 

"  I  ought  to  know  her  inmost  heart,  son,  ior  often  have 
I  listened  to  her  pure  and  meek  spirit,  in  the  secrets  of  the 
confessional.  Much  as  she  is  beloved  by  us  Castilians,  no 
one  can  know  the  true,  spiritual  elevation  of  that  pious 
princess,  and  most  excellent  woman,  bu-t  they  who  have 
had  occasion  to  shrive  her." 

Don  Luis  hemmed,  played  with  the  handle  of  his  rapier, 
and  then  gave  utterance  to  the  uppermost  thought,  as  usual. 

"  Didst  thou,  by  any  chance  of  thy  priestly  office,  father, 


176  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

ever  find  it  necessary  to  confess  a  maiden  of  the  court,  who 
is  much  esteemed  by  the  queen?"  he  inquired,  "and  whose 
spirit,  I  '11  answer  for  it,  is  as  pure  as  that  of  Dona  Isabella's 
itself." 

"  Son,  thy  question  denoteth  greater  necessity  for  repair 
ing  to  Salamanca,  in  order  to  be  instructed  in  the  history, 
and  practices,  and  faith  of  the  church,  than  to  be  entering 
into  an  enterprise,  even  as  commendable  as  this  of  Colon's  ! 
Dost  thou  not  know  that  we  churchmen  are  not  permitted 
to  betray  the  secrets  of  the  confessional,  or  to  draw  com 
parisons  between  penitents?  and,  moreover,  that  we  do  not 
take  even  Dona  Isabella,  the  blessed  Maria  keep  her  ever 
in  mind,  as  the  standard  of  holiness  to  which  all  Christians 
are  expected  to  aim  ?  The  maiden  of  whom  thou  speakest 
may  be  virtuous,  according  to  worldly  notions,  and  yet  a 
grievous  sinner  in  the  eyes  of  mother  church." 

"  I  should  like,  before  I  quit  Spain,  to  hear  a  Mendoza, 
or  a  Guzman,  who  hath  not  a  shaven  crown,  venture  to 
hint  as  much,  most  reverend  prior !" 

"Thou  art  hot  and  restive,  and  talkest  idly,  son;  what 
would  one  like  thee  find  to  say  to  a  Guzman,  or  a  Mendoza, 
or  a  Bobadilla,  even,  did  he  affirm  what  thou  wishest.  But, 
who  is  the  maid,  in  whom  thy  feelings  seem  to  take  so  deep, 
although  I  question  if  it  be  not  an  unrequited,  interest?" 

"  Nay,  I  did  but  speak  in  idleness.  Our  stations  have 
made  such  a  chasm  between  us,  that  it  is  little  likely  we 
should  ever  come  to  speech  ;  nor  is  my  merit  such  as  would 
be  apt  to  cause  her  to  forget  her  high  advantages." 

"  Still,  she  hath  a  name?" 

"  She  hath,  truly,  prior,  and  a  right  noble  one  it  is.  I 
had  the  Dona  Maria  de  las  Mercedes  de  Valverde  in  my 
thoughts,  when  the  light  remark  found  utterance.  Haply, 
thou  mayest  know  that  illustrious  heiress  ?" 

Fray  Juan  Perez,  a  truly  guileless  priest,  started  at  the 
name ;  then  he  gazed  intently,  and  with  a  sort  of  pity,  at 
the  youth ;  after  which  he  bent  his  head  towards  the  tiles 
beneath  his  feet,  smiled,  and  shook  his  head  like  one  whose 
thoughts  were  very  active. 

"  I  do,  indeed,  know  the  lady,"  he  said,  "  and  even 
when  last  at  court,  on  this  errand  of  Colon's,  their  awn 
confessor  being  ill,  I  shrived  her,  as  well  as  my  royal  mis- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  177 

tress.  That  she  is  worthy  of  Dona  Isabella's  esteem  is 
true;  but  thy  admiration  for  this  noble  maiden,  which  must 
be  something  like  the  distant  reverence  we  feel  for  the 
clouds  that  sail  above  our  heads,  can  scarce  be  founded  on 
any  rational  hopes." 

"  Thou  canst  riot  know  that,  father.  If  this  expedition 
end  as  we  trust,  all  who  engage  in  it  will  be  honoured  and 
advanced ;  and  why  not  I,  as  well  as  another  ?" 

"  In  this,  thou  may'st  utter  truth,  but  as  for  the  Dona — " 
The  Franciscan  checked  himself,  for  he  was  about  to  be 
tray  the  secret  of  the  confessional.  He  had,  in  truth,  lis 
tened  to  the  contrition  of  Mercedes,  of  which  her  passion 
for  Luis  was  the  principal  catise ;  and  it  was  he,  who,  with 
a  species  of  pious  fraud  of  which  he  was  himself  uncon 
scious,  had  first  pointed  out  the  means  by  which  the 
truant  noble  might  be  made  to  turn  his  propensity  to  rove 
to  the  profit  of  his  love ;  and  his  mind  was  full  of  her  beau 
tiful  exhibition  of  purity  and  natural  feeling,  nearly  even 
to  overflowing.  But  habit  and  duty  interfered  in  time,  and 
he  did  not  utter  the  name  that  had  been  trembling  on  his 
lips.  Still,  his  thoughts  continued  in  this  current,  and  his 
tongue  gave  utterance  to  that  portion  of  them  which  he  be 
lieved  to  be  harmless.  "  Thou  hast  been  much  about  the 
world,  it  would  seem,  by  Master  Alonzo's  greeting,"  he 
continued,  after  a  short  pause;  "didst  ever  meet,  son, 
with  a  certain  cavalier  of  Castile,  named  Don  Luis  de  Bo- 
badilla  —  a  grandee,  who  also  bears  the  title  of  Conde 
de  Llera  ?" 

"  I  know  little  of  his  hopes,  and  care  less  for  his  titles," 
returned  Luis,  calmly,  who  thought  he  would  manifest  a 
magnanimous  indifference  to  the  Franciscan's  opinions, — 
"  but  I  have  seen  the  cavalier,  and  a  roving,  mad-brained, 
graceless  youth  it  is,  of  whom  no  good  can  be  expected." 

"  I  fear  this  is  but  too  true",  rejoined  Fray  Juan  Perez, 
shaking  his  head  in  a  melancholy  manner — "and  yet  they 
say  he  is  a  gallant  knight,  and  the  very  best  lance  in  all 
Spam." 

"  Ay,  he  may  be  that,"  answered  Luis,  hemming  a  little 
louder  than  was  decorous,  for  his  throat  began  to  grow 
husky—"  Ay,  he  may  be  that ;  but  of  what  avail  is  a  good 


178  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

lance  without  a  good  character.  I  hear  little  commendable 
of  this  young  Conde  de  Llera." 

"  I  trust  he  is  not  the  man  he  generally  passeth  for," — 
answered  the  simple-hearted  monk,  without  in  the  least  sus 
pecting  his  companion's  disguise;  "and  I  do  know  that 
there  are  some  who  think  well  of  him — nay,  whose  exist 
ence,  I  might  say  whose  very  souls,  are  wrapped  up  in 
him !" 

"Holy  Franciscan!  —  why  wilt  thou  not  mention  the 
names  of  one  or  two  of  these  ?"  demanded  Luis,  with  an 
impetuosity  that  caused  the  prior  to  start. 

"  And  why  should  I  give  this  information  to  thee,  young 
man,  more  than  to  another  ?" 

"  Why,  father — why,  for  several  most  excellent  and  un 
answerable  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  I  am  a  youth  my 
self,  as  thou  seest ;  and  example,  they  say,  is  better  than 
precept.  Then,  too,  Jam  somewhat  given  to  roving,  and 
it  may  profit  me  to  know  how  others  of  the  same  propen 
sity  have  sped.  Moreover,  it  would  gladden  my  inmost 
heart  to  hear  that  —  but  two  sufficient  reasons  are  better 
than  three,  and  thou  hast  the  first  number  already." 

Fray  Juan  Perez,  a  devout  Christian,  a  learned  church 
man,  and  a  liberal  scholar,  was  as  simple  as  a  child  in  mat 
ters  that  related  to  the  world  and  its  passions.  Neverthe 
less,  he  was  not  so  dull  as  to  overlook  the  strange  deport 
ment  and  stranger  language  of  his  companion.  A  direction 
had  been  given  to  his  thoughts  by  the  mention  of  the  name 
of  our  heroine ;  and,  as  he  himself  had  devised  the  very 
course  taken  by  our  hero,  the  truth  began  to  dawn  on  his 
imagination. 

"  Young  cavalier,"  he  exclaimed,  "  thou  art  Don  Luis 
de  Bobadilla !" 

"  I  shall  never  deny  the  prophetic  knowledge  of  a  church 
man,  worthy  father,  after  this  detection !  I  am  he  thou 
sayest,  entered  on  this  expedition  to  win  the  love  of  Mer 
cedes  de  Valverde." 

"  'Tis  as  I  thought  —  and  yet,  Senor,  you  might  have 
taken  our  poor  convent  less  at  an  advantage.  Suffer  that 
I  command  the  lay  brothers  to  place  refreshments  before 
you  !" 

"  Thy  pardon,  excellent  prior — Pedro  de  Munos,  or  even 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  179 

Pero  Gutierrez,  hath  no  need  of  food  ;  —  but,  now  that 
thou  knovvest  me,  there  can  be  less  reason  for  not  convers 
ing  of  the  Dona  Mercedes  ?" 

"  Now,  that  I  know  thee,  Senor  Conde,  there  is  greater 
'reason  for  silence  on  that  head,"  returned  Fray  Juan  Perez, 
smiling.  "  Thine  aunt,  the  most  esteemed  and  virtuous 
lady  of  Moya,  can  give  thee  all  occasion  to  urge  thy  suit 
with  this  charming  maiden,  and  it  would  ill  become  a 
churchman  to  temper  her  prudence  by  any  indiscreet  inter 
ference." 

This  explanation  was  the  commencement  of  a  long  and 
confidential  dialogue,  in  which  the  worthy  prior,  now  that 
he  was  on  his  guard,  succeeded  in  preserving  his  main  se 
cret,  though  he  much  encouraged  the  young  man  in  the 
leading  hope  of  his  existence,  as  well  as  in  his  project  to 
adhere  to  the  fortunes  of  Columbus.  In  the  mean  while, 
the  great  navigator  himself  continued  closeted  with  his  new 
counsellor  ;  and  when  the  two  re-appeared,  it  was  announced 
to  those  without,  that  the  latter  had  engaged  in  the  enter 
prise  with  so  much  zeal,  that  he  actually  entertained  the 
intention  of  embarking  on  board  of  one  of  the  caravels  in 
person. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

M  Yet  he  to  whom  each  danger  hath  become 
A  dark  delight,  and  every  wild  a  home, 
Still  urges  onward  —  undismayed  to  tread 
Where  life's  fond  lovers  would  recoil  with  dread." 

The  Abencerrage. 

THE  intelligence  that  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  was  to  make 
one  of  the  followers  of  Colon,  spread  through  the  village  of 
Palos  like  wild-fire.  Volunteers  were  no  longer  wanting ; 
the  example  of  one  known  and  respected  in  the  vicinity, 
operating  far  more  efficiently  on  the  minds  of  the  mariners, 


160  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

than  the  orders  of  the  queen,  or  the  philosophy  of  Colum 
bus.  Martin  Alonzo  they  knew ;  they  were  accustomed  to 
submit  to  his  influence ;  they  could  follow  in  his  footsteps,- 
and  had  confidence  in  his  judgment ;  whereas  the  naked 
orders  of  an  unseen  sovereign,  however  much  beloved,  had 
more  of  the  character  of  a  severe  judgment  than  of  a  gene 
rous  enterprise ;  and,  as  for  Columbus,  though  most  men 
were  awed  by  his  dignified  appearance  and  grave  manner, 
when  out  of  sight,  he  was  as  much  regarded  as  an  adven 
turer  at  Palos,  as  he  had  been  at  Santa  Fe. 

The  Pinzons  set  about  their  share  of  the  expedition  after 
the  manner  of  those  who  were  more  accustomed  to  execute, 
than  to  plan.  Several  of  the  family  entered  cordially  into 
the  work ;  and  a  brother  of  Martin  Alonzo's,  whose  name 
was  Vicente  Yanez,  also  a  mariner  by  profession,  joined  the 
adventurers  as  commander  of  one  of  the  vessels,  while  an 
other  took  service  as  a  pilot.  In  short,  the  month  that  suc 
ceeded  the  incidents  just  mentioned,  was  actively  employed, 
and  more  was  done,  in  that  short  space  of  time,  towards 
bringing  about  a  solution  of  the  great  problem  of  Columbus, 
than  had  been  accomplished,  in  a  practical  way,  during  the 
seventeen  long  years  that  the  subject  had  occupied  his  time, 
and  engrossed  his  thoughts. 

Notwithstanding  the  local  influence  of  the  Pinzons,  a 
vigorous  opposition  to  the  project,  still  existed  in  the  heart 
of  the  little  community  that  had  been  chosen  for  the  place 
of  equipment  of  the  different  vessels  required.  This  family 
had  its  enemies,  as  well  as  its  friends,  and,  as  is  usual  with 
most  human  undertakings,  two  parties  sprang  up,  one  of 
which  was  quite  as  busily  occupied  in  thwarting  the  plans 
of  the  navigator,  as  the  other  was  engaged  in  promoting 
them.  One  vessel  had  been  seized  for  the  service,  under 
the  order  of  the  court,  and  her  owners  became  leaders  of 
the  dissatisfied  faction.  Many  seamen,  according  to  the 
usage  of  that  day,  had  been  impressed  for  duty  on  this  ex 
traordinary  and  mysterious  voyage ;  and,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  they  and  their  friends  were  not  slow  to  join  the 
ranks  of  the  disaffected.  Much  of  the  necessary  work  was 
found  to  be  imperfectly  done  ;  and  when  the  mechanics  were 
called  on  to  repair  these  omissions,  they  absconded  in  a 
body.  As  the  time  for  sailing  approached,  the  contention 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  181 

grew  more  and  more  violent,  and  even  the  Pinzons  had  the 
mortification  of  discovering  that  many  of  those  who  had 
volunteered  to  follow  their  fortunes,  began  to  waver,  and 
that  some  had  unequivocally  deserted. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  towards  the  close  of  the 
month  of  July,  when  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  again  repaired 
to  the  convent  of  Santa  Maria  de  Rabida,  where  Columbus 
continued  to  pass  most  of  the  time  that  was  not  given  to  a 
direct  personal  superintendence  of  the  preparations,  and 
where  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  who  was  altogether  useless  in  the 
actual  condition  of  affairs,  also  passed  many  a  weary  hour, 
chafing  for  active  duty,  and  musing  on  the  loveliness,  truth 
and  virtues  of  Mercedes  de  Valverde.  Fray  Juan  Perez 
was  earnest  in  his  endeavours  to  facilitate  the  execution  of 
the  objects  of  his  friends,  and  he  had  actually  succeeded, 
if  not  in  absolutely  suppressing  the  expression  of  all  injuri 
ous  opinions  on  the  part  of  the  less  enlightened  of  the  bro 
therhood,  at  least  in  rendering  the  promulgation  of  them 
more  cautious  and  private. 

When  Columbus  and  the  prior  were  told  that  the  Senor 
Pinzon  sought  an  interview,  neither  was  slow  in  granting 
the  favour.  As  the  hour  of  departure  drew  nigh,  the  im 
portance  of  this  man's  exertions  became  more  and  more 
apparent,  and  both  well  knew  that  the  royal  protection  of 
Isabella  herself,  just  at  that  moment  and  in  that  place,  was 
of  less  account  than  that  of  this  active  mariner.  The 
Senor  Pinzon,  therefore,  had  not  long  to  wait  for  his  audi 
ence,  having  been  ushered  into  the  room  that  was  common 
ly  occupied  by  the  zealous  Franciscan,  almost  as  soon  as 
his  request  was  preferred. 

"  Thou  art  right  welcome,  worthy  Martin  Alonzo  !"  ex 
claimed  the  prior,  the  moment  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
features  of  his  old  acquaintance — "  How  get  on  matters  at 
Palos,  and  when  shall  we  have  this  holy  undertaking  in  a 
fair  direction  for  success  ?" 

"  By  San  Francis^,  reverend  prior,  that  is  more  than  it 
will  be  safe  for  any  man  to  answer.  I  have  thought  we 
were  in  a  fair  way  to  make  sail,  a  score  of  times,  when 
some  unforeseen  difficulty  hath  arisen.  The  Santa  Maria, 
on  board  which  the  admiral  and  the  Senor  Gutierrez,  or  de 
Munos  if  he  will  have  it  so,  will  embark,  is  already  fitted. 
16 


182  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

She  may  be  set  down  as  a  tight  craft,  and  somewhat  ex- 
ceedeth  a  hundred  tons  in  burthen,  so  that  I  trust  his  excel 
lency,  and  all  the  gallant  cavaliers  who  may  accompany 
him,  will  be  as  comfortable  as  the  holy  monks  of  Ra- 
bida, — more  especially  as  the  good  caravel  hath  a  deck." 

"  These  are,  truly,  glad  tidings,"  returned  the  prior,  rub 
bing  his  hands  with  delight — "  and  the  excellent  craft  hath 
really  a  deck !  Senor  Almirante,  thou  may'st  not  be  in  a 
vessel  that  is  altogether  worthy  of  thy  high  aim,  but,  on 
the  whole,  thou  wilt  be  both  safe  and  comfortable,  keeping 
in  view,  in  particular,  this  convenient  and  sheltering  deck." 

"  Neither  my  safety  nor  my  convenience  is  a  considera 
tion  to  be  mentioned,  friend  Juan  Perez,  when  there  is 
question  of  so  much  graver  matters.  I  rejoice  that 
thou  hast  come  to  the  convent  this  morning,  Sefior  Martin 
Alonzo,  as  being  about  to  address  letters  to  the  court,  by 
means  of  an  especial  courier,  I  desire  to  know  the  actual 
condition  of  things.  Thou  thinkest  the  Santa  Maria  will 
be  in  a  state  for  service  by  the  end  of  the  month  ?" 

"  Senor,  I  do.  The  ship  hath  been  prepared  with  due 
diligence,  and  will  conveniently  hold  some  three  score, 
should  the  panic  that  hath  seized  on  so  many  of  the  besot 
ted  fools  of  Palos,  leave  us  that  number,  who  may  still  be 
disposed  to  embark.  I  trust  that  the  saints  look  upon  our 
many  efforts,  and  will  remember  our  zeal  when  we  shall 
come  to  a  joint  division  of  the  benefits  of  this  undertaking, 
which  hath  had  no  equal  in  the  history  of  navigation !" 

"  The  benefits,  honest  Martin  Alonzo,  will  be  found  in 
the  spread  of  the  church's  dominion,  and  the  increased 
glory  of  God  !"  put  in  the  prior,  significantly. 

"  Out  of  all  question,  holy  Fray  Juan  Perez — this  is  the 
common  aim ;  though  I  trust  it  is  permitted  to  a  pains 
taking  mariner  to  bethink  him  of  his  wife  and  children,  in 
discreet  subordination  to  those  greater  ends.  I  have  much 
mistaken  the  Senor  Colon,  if  he  do  not  look  for  some  little 
advantage,  in  the  way  of  gold,  from  this  visit  to  Cathay." 

"  Thou  hast  not  mistaken  me,  honest  Martin  Alonzo," 
returned  Columbus,  gravely.  "  I  do,  indeed,  e:'r»t  -t  to  see 
the  wealth  of  the  Indies  pouring  into  the  coffers  of  Castile, 
in  consequence  of  this  voyage.  In  sooth,  excellent  prior, 
in  my  view,  the  recovery  of  the  holy  sepulchre  is  depend- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  183 

ent  mainly  on  the  success  of  our  present  undertaking,  in  the 
way  of  a  substantial  worldly  success." 

"  This  is  well,  Sefior  Admiral,"  put  in  Martin  Alonzo,  a 
little  hastily,  "and  ought  to  gain  us  great  favour  in  the  eyes 
of  all  good  Christians — more  especially  with  the  monks  of 
la  RabTda.  But  it  is  hard  enough  to  persuade  the  mariners 
of  the  port  to  obey  the  queen,  in  this  matter,  and  to  fulfil 
their  engagements  with  ourselves,  without  preaching  a  cru 
sade,  as  the  best  means  of  throwing  away  the  few  marave- 
dis  they  may  happen  to  gain  by  their  hardships  and  courage. 
The  worthy  pilots,  Francisco  Martin  Pinzon,  mine  own  bro 
ther,  Sancho  Ruiz,  Pedro  Alonzo  Nino,  and  Bartolemeo 
Roldan,  are  all  now  firmly  tied  to  us  by  the  ropes  of  the 
law ;  but  should  they  happen  to  find  a  crusade  at  their  end, 
all  the  saints  in  the  calendar  would  scarce  have  influence  to 
make  them  hesitate  about  loosening  themselves  from  the 
agreement." 

"  I  hold  no  one  but  myself  bound  to  this  object,"  returned 
Columbus,  calmly.  "  Each  man,  friend  Martin  Alonzo, 
will  be  judged  by  his  own  deeds,  and  called  on  to  fulfil  his 
own  vows.  Of  those  who  pledge  nought,  nought  will  be 
exacted,  and  nought  given  at  the  great  final  account  of  the 
human  race.  But  what  are  the  tidings  of  the  Pinta,  thine 
own  vessel  ?  Hath  she  been  fina-lly  put  into  a  condition  to 
buffet  the  Atlantic?" 

"  As  ever  happeneth  with  a  vessel  pressed  into  the  royal 
service,  Sefior,  work  hath  gone  on  heavily,  and  things  in 
general  have  not  borne  that  merry  activity  which  accompa- 
nieth  the  labour  of  those  who  toil  of  a  free  will,  and  for 
their  own  benefit." 

"The  silly  mariners  have  toiled  in  their  own  behalf, 
without  knowing  it,"  observed  Columbus.  "  It  is  the  duty 
of  the  ignorant  to  submit  to  be  led  by  the  more  enlightened, 
and  to  be  grateful  for  the  advantages  they  derive  from  a 
borrowed  knowledge,  albeit  it  is  obtained  contrary  to  their 
own  wishes." 

"  That  is  it,  truly,"  added  the  prior ;  "  else  would  the 
office  of  us  churchmen  be  reduced  to  very  narrow  limits. 
Faith — faith  in  the  church — is  the  Christian's  earliest  and 
latest  duty." 

"This    seemeth    reasonable,   excellent  sirs,"   returned 


184  MEKCEUES    OF    CASTILE. 

Master  Alonzo,  "  though  the  ignorant  find  it  difficult  to 
comprehend  matters  that  they  do  not  understand.  When 
a  man  fancieth  himself  condemned  to  an  unheard-of  death, 
he  is  little  apt  to  see  the  benefit  that  lieth  beyond  the  grave. 
Nevertheless,  the  Pinta  is  more  nearly  ready  for  the  voy 
age,  than  any  other  of  our  craft,  and  hath  her  crew  en 
gaged  to  a  man,  and  that  under  contracts  that  will  not 
permit  much  dispute  before  a  notary." 

"  T?here  remaineth  only  the  Nina,  then,"  added  Colum 
bus  ;  "  with  her  prepared,  and  our  religious  duties  observed, 
we  may  hope  finally  to  commence  the  enterprise  !" 

"  Senor,  you  may.  My  brother,  Vicente  Yanez,  hath 
finally  consented  to  take  charge  of  this  little  craft ;  and 
that  which  a  Pinzon  promiseth,  a  Pinzon  performeth.  She 
will  be  ready  to  depart  with  the  Santa  Maria  and  the  Pinta, 
and  Cathay  must  be  distant,  indeed,  if  we  do  not  reach  it 
with  one  or  the  other  of  our  vessels." 

"  This  is  right  encouraging,  neighbour  Martin  Alonzo," 
returned  the  friar,  rubbing  his  hands  with  delight,  "  and  I 
make  no  question  all  will  come  round  in  the  end.  What 
say  the  crones  and  loose  talkers  of  Moguer,  and  of  the 
other  ports,  touching  the  shape  of  the  earth,  and  the  chances 
of  the  admiral's  reaching  the  Indies,  now-a-days  1" 

"  They  discourse  much  as  they  did,  Fray  Juan  Perez, 
idly  and  without  knowledge.  Although  there  is  not  a 
mariner  in  any  of  the  havens  who  doth  not  admit  that  the 
upper  sails,  though  so  much  the  smallest,  are  the  first  seen 
on  the  ocean,  yet  do  they  deny  that  this  cometh  of  the 
shape  of  the  earth,  but,  as  they  affirm,  of  the  movements 
of  the  waters." 

"  Have  none  of  them  ever  observed  the  shadows  cast  by 
the  earth,  in  the  eclipses  of  the  moon  1"  asked  Columbus, 
in  his  calm  manner,  though  he  smiled,  even  in  putting  the 
question,  as  one  smiles  who,  having  dipped  deeply  into  a 
natural  problem  himself,  carelessly  lays  one  of  its  more 
popular  proofs  before  those  who  are  less  disposed  to  go  be 
neath  the  surface.  "  Do  they  not  see  that  these  shadows 
are  round,  and  do  they  not  know  that  a  shadow  which  is 
round  can  only  be  cast  by  a  body  that  is  round  V1 

"  This  is  conclusive,  good  Martin  Alonzo,"  put  in  the 
prior,  "  and  it  ought  to  remove  the  doubts  of  the  silliest 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  185 

gossip  on  the  coast.  Tell  them  to  encircle  their  dwellings, 
beginning  to  the  right,  and  see  if,  by  following  the  walls, 
they  do  not  return  to  ihe  spot  from  which  they  started, 
coming  in  from  the  left." 

"  Ay,  reverend  prior,  if  we  could  bring  our  distant  voy 
age  down  to  these  familiar  examples,  there  is  not  a  crone 
in  Moguer,  or  a  courtier  at  Seville,  that  might  not  be  made 
to  comprehend  the  mystery.  But  it  is  one  thing  to  state  a 
problem  fairly,  and  another  to  find  those  who  can  under 
stand  it.  Now,  I  did  give  some  such  reasoning  to  the 
Alguiazil,  in  Palos  here,  and  the  worthy  Senor  asked  me  if 
I  expected  to  return  from  this  voyage  by  the  way  of  the 
lately  captured  town  of  Granada.  I  fancy  that  the  easiest 
method  of  persuading  these  good  people  to  believe  that 
Cathay  can  be  reached  by  the  western  voyage,  will  be  by 
going  there  and  returning." 

**  Which  we  will  shortly  do,  Master  Martin  Alonzo,"  ob 
served  Columbus,  cheerfully  — "  But  the  time  of  our  depar 
ture  draweth  near,  and  it  is  meet  that  none  of  us  neglect 
the  duties  of  religion.  I  commend  thee  to  thy  confessor, 
Senor  Pinzon,  and  expect  that  all  who  sail  with  me,  in  this 
great  enterprise,  will  receive  the  holy  communion  in  my 
company,  before  we  quit  the  haven.  This  excellent  prior 
will  shrive  Pedro  de  Munos  and  myself,  and  let  each  man 
seek  such  other  holy  counsellor  and  monitor  as  hath  been 
his  practice." 

With  this  intimation  of  his  intention  to  pay  a  due  regard 
to  the  rites  of  the  church  before  he  departed — rites  that 
were  seldom  neglected  in  that  day — the  conversation  turned, 
for  the  moment,  on  the  details  of  the  preparations.  After 
this  the  parties  separated,  and  a  few  more  days  passed 
away  in  active  exertions. 

On  the  morning  of  Thursday,  August  the  second,  1492, 
Columbus  entered  the  private  apartment  of  Fray  Juan  Perez, 
habited  like  a  penitent,  and  with  an  air  so  devout,  and  yet 
so  calm,  that  it  was  evident  his  thoughts  were  altogether 
bent  on  his  own  transgressions  and  on  the  goodness  of  God. 
The  zealous  priest  was  in  waiting,  and  the  great  navigator 
knelt  at  the  feet  of  him,  before  whom  Isabe-lla  had  often 
knelt,  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  same  solemnity.  The  reli 
gion  or  this  extraordinary  man  was  coloured  by  the  habits 
16* 


18f>  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

and  opinions  of  his  age,  as  indeed,  in  a  greater  or  less  de 
gree,  must  be  the  religion  of  every  man ;  his  confession, 
consequently,  had  that  admixture  ef  deep  piety  with  incon 
sistent  error,  that  so  often  meets  the  moralist  in  his  investi 
gations  into  the  philosophy  of  the  human  mind.  The  truth 
of  this  peculiarity  will  be  seen,  by  adverting  to  one  or  two 
of  the  admissions  of  the  great  navigator,  as  he  laid  before 
his  ghostly*  counsellor  the  catalogue  of  his  sins. 

"  Then,  I  fear,  holy  father,"  Columbus  continued,  after 
having  made  most  of  the  usual  confessions  touching  the 
more  familiar  weaknesses  of  the  human  race,  "  that  my 
mind  hath  become  too  much  exalted  in  this  matter  of  the 
voyage,  and  that  I  may  have  thought  myself  more  directly 
set  apart  by  God,  for  some  good  end,  than  it  might  please 
his  infinite  knowledge  and  wisdom  to  grant." 

"  That  would  be  a  dangerous  error,  my  son,  and  I  care 
fully  admonish  thee  against  the  evils  of  self-righteousness. 
That  God  selecteth  his  agents,  is  beyond  dispute ;  but  it  is 
a  fearful  error  to  mistake  the  impulses  of  self-love,  for  the 
movements  of  his  Divine  Spirit !  It  is  hardly  safe  for  any 
who  have  not  received  the  church's  ordination,  to  deem 
themselves  chosen  vessels." 

"  I  endeavour  so  to  consider  it,  holy  friar,"  answered 
Columbus,  meekly ;  "  and,  yet,  there  is  that  within,  which 
constantly  urgeth  to  this  belief,  be  it  a  delusion,  or  come  it 
directly  from  heaven.  I  strive,  father,  to  keep  the  feeling 
in  subjection,  and  most  of  all  do  I  endeavour  to  see  that  it 
taketh  a  direction  that  may  glorify  the  name  of  God  and 
serve  the  interests  of  his  visible  church." 

"  This  is  well,  and  yet  do  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  admonish 
thee  against  too  much  credence  in  these  inward  impulses. 
So  long  as  they  tend,  solely,  to  increase  thy  love  for  the 
Supreme  Father  of  all,  to  magnify  his  holiness  and  glorify 
his  nature,  thou  mayest  be  certain  it  is  the  offspring  of 
good  ;  but  when  self-exaltation  seemeth  to  be  its  aim,  be 
ware  the  impulse,  as  thou  would  eschew  the  dictation  of 
the  great  father  of  evil." 

"  I  so  consider  it ;  and  now  having  truly  and  sincerely 
disburthened  my  conscience,  father,  so  far  as  in  me  lieth 
may  I  hope  for  the  church's  consolation,  with  its 
tion?" 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  187 

"  Canst  thou  think  of  nought  else,  son,  that  should  not 
lie  hid  from  before  the  keeper  of  all  consciences  ?" 

"  My  sins  are  many,  holy  prior,  and  cannot  be  too  often 
or  too  keenly  rebuked ;  but  I  do  think  that  they  may  be 
fairly  included  in  the  general  heads  that  I  have  endea 
voured  to  recal." 

"  Hast  thou  nothing  to  charge  thyself  with,  in  connection 
with  that  sex  that  the  devil  as  often  useth  as  his  tempters 
to  evil,  as  the  angels  would  fain  employ  them  as  the  minis 
ters  of  grace  ?" 

"  I  have  erred  as  a  man,  father ;  but  do  not  my  confes 
sions  already  meet  those  sins  ?" 

"  Hast  thou  bethought  thee  of  Dona  Beatrix  Enriquez  ? 
of  thy  son  Fernando,  who  tarrieth,  at  this  moment,  in  our 
convent  of  La  Rabida?" 

Columbus  bowed  his  head  in  submission,  and  the  heavy 
sigh,  amounting  almost  to  a  groan,  that  broke  out  of  his 
bosom,  betrayed  the  weight  of  his  momentary  contrition. 

"  Thou  sayest  true,  father ;  that  is  an  offence  which 
should  never  be  forgotten,  though  so  often  shrived  since  its 
commission.  Heap  on  me  the  penance  that  I  feel  is  due, 
and  thou  shalt  see  how  a  Christian  can  bend  and  kiss  the 
rod  that  he  is  conscious  of  having  merited." 

"  The  spirit  thus  to  do,  is  all  that  the  church  requireth ; 
and  thou  art  now  bent  on  a  service  too  important  to  her  in 
terests,  to  be  drawn  aside  from  thy  great  intentions,  for  any 
minor  considerations.  Still  may  not  a  minister  of  th  altar 
overlook  the  offence.  Thou  wilt  say  a  pater,  daily,  on  ac 
count  of  this  great  sin,  for  the  next  twenty  days,  all  of 
which  will  be  for  the  good  of  thy  soul ;  after  which  the 
church  releaseth  thee  from  this  especial  duty,  as  thou  wilt, 
then,  be  drawing  near  to  the  land  of  Cathay,  and  may  have 
occasion  for  all  thy  thoughts  and  efforts  to  effect  thy 
object." 

The  worthy  prior  then  proceeded  to  prescribe  several 
light  penances,  most  of  which  were  confined  to  moderate 
increases  of  the  daily  duties  of  religion ;  after  which  he 
shrived  the  navigator.  The  turn  of  Luis  came  next,  and 
more  than  once  the  prior  smiled  involuntarily,  as  he  lis 
tened  to  this  hot-blooded  and  impetuous  youth,  whose  lan 
guage  irresistibly  carried  back  his  thoughts  to  the  more 


188  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

meek,  natural,  and  the  more  gentle  admissions  of  the 
pure-minded  Mercedes.  The  penance  prescribed  to  Luis 
was  not  entirely  free  from  severity,  though,  on  the  whole, 
the  young  man,  who  was  not  much  addicted  to  the  duties 
of  the  confessional,  fancied  himself  well  quit  of  the  affair, 
considering  the  length  of  the  account  he  was  obliged  to 
render,  and  the  weight  of  the  balance  against  him. 

These  duties  performed  in  the  persons  of  the  two  prin 
cipal  adventurers,  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  and  the  ruder 
mariners  of  the  expedition,  appeared  before  different  priests 
and  gave  in  the  usual  reckoning  of  their  sins.  After  this, 
came  a  scene  that  was  strictly  characteristic  of  the  age, 
and  which  would  be  impressive  and  proper,  in  all  times  and 
seasons,  for  men  about  to  embark  in  an  undertaking  of  a 
result  so  questionable. 

High  mass  was  said  in  the  chapel  of  the  convent,  and 
Columbus  received  the  consecrated  bread  from  the  hands 
of  Fray  Juan  Perez,  in  humble  reliance  on  the  all-seeing 
providence  of  God,  and  with  a  devout  dependence  on  his 
fostering  protection.  All  who  were  about  to  embark  with 
the  admiral  imitated  his  example,  communing  in  his  com 
pany  ;  for  that  was  a  period  when  the  wire-drawn  conclu 
sions  of  man  had  not  yet  begun  so  far  to  supplant  the  faith 
and  practices  of  the  earlier  church  as  to  consider  its  rites 
as  the  end  of  religion,  but  he  was  still  content  to  regard 
them  as  its  means.  Many  a  rude  sailor,  whose  ordinary 
life  might  not  have  been  either  saintly  or  even  free  from 
severe  censure,  knelt  that  day  at  the  altar,  in  devout  de 
pendence  on  God,  with  feelings,  for  the  moment,  that  at 
least  placed  him  on  the  high-way  to  grace ;  and  it  would  be 
presumptuous  to  suppose  that  the  omniscient  Being  to  whom 
his  offerings  were  made,  did  not  regard  his  ignorance  with 
commiseration  and  even  look  upon  his  superstition  with 
pity.  We  scoff  at  the  prayers  of  those  who  are  in  danger, 
without  reflecting  that  they  are  a  homage  to  the  power  of 
God,  and  are  apt  to  fancy  that  these  passages  in  devotion 
are  mere  mockery,  because  the  daily  mind  and  the  or 
dinary  life  are  not  always  elevated  to  the  same  standard 
of  godliness  and  purity.  It  would  be  more  humble  to 
remember  the  general  infirmities  of  the  race;  to  recol 
lect,  that  as  none  are  perfect,  the  question  is  reduced 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  189 

to  one  of  degree;  and  to  bear  in  mind,  that  the  Being  who 
reads  the  heart,  may  accept  of  any  devout  petitions,  even 
though  they  come  from  those  who  are  not  disposed  ha- 
bitually  to  walk  in  hi-s  laws.  These  passing  but  pious  emo 
tions  are  the  workings  of  the  Spirit,  since  good  can  come 
from  no  other  source ;  and  it  is  as  unreasonable  as  it  is  irre 
verent  to  imagine  that  the  Deity  will  disregard,  altogether, 
the  effects  of  his  own  grace,  however  humble. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  general  disposition  of  most 
of  the  communicants  on  this  occasion,  there  is  little  doubt 
that  there  knelt  at  the  altar  of  La  Rabida,  that  day,  one  in 
the  person  of  the  great  navigator  himself,  who,  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  perceive,  lived  habitually  in  profound  defer 
ence  to  the  dogmas  of  religion,  and  who  paid  an  undevi- 
ating  respect  to  all  its  rites.  Columbus  was  not  strictly  a 
devotee  ;  but  a  quiet,  deeply  seated  enthusiasm,  which  had 
taken  the  direction  of  Christianity,  pervaded  his  moral  sys 
tem,  and  at  all  times  disposed  him  to  look  up  to  the  pro 
tecting  hand  of  the  Deity  and  to  expect  its  aid.  The  high 
aims  that  he  entertained  for  the  future  have  already  been 
mentioned,  and  there  is  little  doubt  of  his  having  persuaded 
himself  that  he  had  been  set  apart  by  Providence  as  the  in 
strument  it  designed  to  employ  in  making  the  great  dis 
covery  on  which  his  mind  was  so  intently  engaged,  as  well 
as  in  accomplishing  other  and  ulterior  purposes.  If,  indeed, 
an  overruling  Power  directs  all  the  events  of  this  world, 
who  will  presume  to  say  that  this  conviction  of  Columbus 
was  erroneous,  now  that  it  has  been  justified  by  the  result  1 
That  he  felt  this  sentiment,  sustaining  his  courage  and 
constantly  urging  him  onward,  is  so  much  additional  evi 
dence  in  favour  of  his  impression,  since,  under  such  cir 
cumstances,  nothing  is  more  probable  than  that  an  earnest 
belief  in  his  destiny  would  be  one  of  the  means  most  likely 
to  be  employed  by  a  supernatural  power  in  inducing  its 
human  agent  to  accomplish  the  work  for  which  he  had 
actually  been  selected. 

Let  this  be  as  it  might,  there  is  no  doubt  that  Colon  ob 
served  the  rites  of  the  church,  on  the  occasion  named,  with 
a  most  devout  reliance  on  the  truth  of  his  mission,  and 
with  the  brightest  hopes  as  to  its  successful  termination. 
Not  so,  however,  with  all  of  his  intended  followers.  Their 


190  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

minds  had  wavered,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  preparations 
advanced ;  and  the  last  month  had  seen  them  eager  to  de« 
part,  and  dejected  with  misgivings  and  doubts.  Although 
there  were  days  of  hope  and  brightness,  despondency 
perhaps  prevailed,  and  this  so  much  the  more  because  the 
apprehensions  of  mothers,  wives,  and  of  those  who  felt  an 
equally  tender  interest  in  the  mariners,  though  less  inclined 
to  avow  it  openly,  were  thrown  into  the  scale  by  the  side 
of  their  own  distrust.  Gold,  unquestionably,  was  the  great 
aim  of  their  wishes,  and  there  were  moments  when  visions 
of  inexhaustible  mines  and  of  oriental  treasures  floated  be 
fore  their  imaginations  ;  at  which  times  none  could  be  more 
eager  to  engage  in  the  mysterious  undertaking,  or  more 
ready  to  risk  their  lives  and  hopes  on  its  success.  But 
these  were  fleeting  impressions,  and,  as  has  just  been  said, 
despondency  was  the  prevalent  feeling  among  those  who 
were  about  to  embark.  It  heightened  the  devotion  of  the 
communicants,  and  threw  a  gloom  over  the  chastened  so 
briety  of  the  altar,  that  weighed  heavily  on  the  hearts  of 
most  assembled  there. 

"  Our  people  seem  none  of  the  most  cheerful,  Senor  Alml- 
rante,"  said  Luis,  as  they  left  the  convent-chapel  in  com 
pany,  "and,  if  truth  must  be  spoken,  one  could  wish  to  set 
forth  on  an  expedition  of  this  magnitude,  better  sustained 
by  merry  hearts  and  smiling  countenances." 

'*  Dost  thou  imagine,  young  count,  that  he  hath  the  firm 
est  mind,  who  weareth  the  most  smiling  visage,  or  that  the 
heart  is  weak  because  the  countenance  is  sobered?  These 
honest  mariners  bethink  them  of  their  sins,  and  no  doubt 
are  desirous  that  so  holy  an  enterprise  be  not  tainted  by  the 
corruption  of  their  own  hearts,  but  rather  purified  and  ren 
dered  fitting,  by  their  longings  to  obey  the  will  of  God.  I 
trust  Luis" — intercourse  had  given  Columbus  a  sort  of 
paternal  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  young  grandee,  that 
lessened  the  distance  made  by  rank  between  them  —  "I 
trust,  Luis,  thou  art  not,  altogether,  without  these  pious 
longings  in  thine  own  person." 

"  By  San  Pedro,  my  new  patron !  Seiior  Almirante,  I 
think  more  of  Mercedes  de  Valverde,  than  of  aught  else,  in 
this  great  affair.  She  is  my  polar  star,  my  religion,  my 
Cathay.  Go  on,  in  Heaven's  name,  and  discover  what  thou 


"     MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  191 

wilt,  whether  it  be  Cipango  or  the  farthest  Indies  ;  beard  the 
great  Khan  on  his  throne,  and  I  will  follow  in  thy  train, 
with  a  poor  lance  and  an  indifferent  sword,  swearing  that 
the  maid  of  Castile  hath  no  equal,  and  ransacking  the  east, 
merely  to  prove  in  the  face  of  the  universe,  that  she  is  peer 
less,  let  her  rivals  come  from  what  part  of  the  earth  they 
may." 

Although  Columbus  permitted  his  grave  countenance 
slightly  to  relax  at  this  rhapsody,  he  did  not  the  less  deem 
imprudent  to  rebuke  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  uttered. 

"  I  grieve,  my  young  friend,"  he  said,  "  to  find  that  thou 
hast  not  the  feelings  proper  for  one  who  is  engaged,  as  it 
might  be,  in  a  work  of  Heaven's  own  ordering.  Canst  thou 
not  foresee  the  long  train  of  mighty  and  wonderful  events 
that  are  likely  to  follow  from  this  voyage — the  spread  of 
religion,  through  the  holy  church  ;  the  conquest  of  distant 
empires,  with  their  submission  to  the  sway  of  Castile;  the 
settling  of  disputed  points  in  science  and  philosophy,  and 
the  attainment  of  inexhaustible  wealth ;  with  the  last  and 
most  honourable  consequence  of  all,  the  recovery  of  the 
sepulchre  of  the  Son  of  God,  from  the  hands  of  the  Infi 
dels  !" 

"  No  doubt,  Senor  Colon  —  no  doubt,  I  see  them  all,  but 
I  see  the  Donas  Mercedes  at  their  end.  What  care  I  for 
gold,  who  already  possess — or  shall  so  soon  possess — more 
than  I  need  ; — what  is  the  extension  of  the  sway  of  Castile 
to  me,  who  can  never  be  its  king ;  and  as  for  the  Holy 
Sepulchre,  give  me  but  Mercedes,  and,  like  my  ancestors 
that  are  gone,  I  am  ready  to  break  a  lance  with  the  stoutest 
Infidel  who  ever  wore  a  turban,  be  it  in  that,  or  in  any 
other  quarrel.  In  short,  Senor  Almirante,  lead  on ;  and 
though  we  go  forth  with  different  objects  and  different  hopes, 
doubt  not  that  they  will  lead  us  to  the  same  goal.  I  feel  that 
you  ought  to  be  supported  in  this  great  and  noble  design, 
and  it  matters  not  what  may  bring  me  in  your  train." 

"  Thou  art  a  mad-brained  youth,  Luis,  and  must  be  hu 
moured,  if  it  were  only  for  the  sake  of  the  sweet  and  pious 
young  maiden  who  seemeth  to  engross  all  thy  thoughts." 

"  You  have  seen  her,  Seflor,  and  can  say  whether  she  be 
not  worthy  to  occupy  the  minds  of  all  the  youth  of  Spain?" 

"  She   is  fair,  and  virtuous,  and  noble,  and  a  zealous 


192  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

friend  of  the  voyage.  These  are  all  rare  merits,  and  thou 
may'st  be  pardoned  for  thy  enthusiasm  in  her  behalf.  But, 
forget  not,  that,  to  win  her,  thou  must  first  win  a  sight  of 
Cathay." 

"  In  the  reality,  you  must  mean,  Senor  Almirante ;  for, 
with  the  mind's  eye,  I  see  it  keenly,  constantly,  and  see 
little  else,  with  Mercedes  standing  on  its  shores,  smiling  a 
welcome,  and,  by  St.  Paul !  sometimes  beckoning  me  on, 
with  that  smile  that  fires  the  soul  with  its  witchery,  even 
while  it  subdues  the  temper  with  its  modesty.  The  blessed 
Maria  send  us  a  wind,  right  speedily,  that  we  may  quit  th'is 
irksome  river,  and  wearying  convent !" 

Columbus  made  no  answer ;  for,  while  he  had  all  con 
sideration  for  a  lover's  impatience,  his  thoughts  turned  to 
subjects  too  grave,  to  be  long  amused  even  by  a  lover's 
follies. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

u  Nor  Zayda  weeps  him  only 
But  all  that  dwell  between 
The  great  Alhambra's  palace  walls 
And  springs  of  Albaiein." 

Bryanfs  Translations. 

THE  instant  of  departure  at  length  arrived.  The  mo 
ment  so  long  desired  by  the  Genoese  was  at  hand,  and 
years  of  poverty,  neglect,  and  of  procrastination,  were  all 
forgotten  at  that  blessed  hour ;  or,  if  they  returned  in  any 
manner  to  the  constant  memory,  it  was  no  longer  with  the 
bitterness  of  hope  deferred.  The  navigator,  at  lost,  saw 
himself  in  the  possession  of  the  means  of  achieving  the 
first  great  object  for  which  he  had  lived  the  last  fifteen 
years,  with  the  hope,  in  perspective,  of  making  the  success 
of  his  present  adventure  the  stepping-stone  towards  effect 
ing  the  conquest  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  While  those 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  193 

around  him  were  looking  with  astonishment  at  the  limited 
means  with  which  ends  so  great  were  to  be  attained,  or 
were  struck  aghast  at  the  apparent  temerity  of  an  under 
taking  that  seemed  to  defy  the  laws  of  nature,  and  to  set  at 
nought  the  rules  of  Providence,  he  had  grown  more  tran 
quil  as  the  time  for  sailing  drew  nearer,  and  his  mind  was 
oppressed  merely  by  a  feeling  of  intense,  but  of  sobered, 
delight.  Fray  Juan  Perez  whispered  to  Luis,  that  he  could 
best  liken  the  joy  of  the  admiral  to  the  chastened  rapture 
of  a  Christian  who  was  about  to  quit  a  world  of  woe,  to 
enter  on  the  untasted,  but  certain,  fruition  of  blessed  im 
mortality. 

This,  however,  was  far  from  being  the  state  of  mind  of 
all  in  Palos.  The  embarkation  took  place  in  the  course  of 
the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  August,  it  being  the  intention  of 
the  pilots  to  carry  the  vessels  that  day  to  a  point,  off  the 
town  of  Huelvas,  where  the  position  was  more  favourable 
to.  making  sail,  than  when  anchored  in  front  of  Palos. 
The  distance  was  trifling,  but  it  was  the  commencement  of 
the  voyage,  and,  to  many,  it  was  like  snapping  the  cords 
of  life,  to  make  even  this  brief  movement.  Columbus, 
himself,  was  one  of  the  last  to  embark,  having  a  letter  to 
send  to  the  court,  and  other  important  duties  to  discharge. 
At  length  he  quitted  the  convent,  and,  accompanied  by  Luis 
and  the  prior,  he,  too,  took  his  way  to  the  beach.  The 
short  journey  was  silent,  for  each  of  the  party  was  deeply 
plunged  in  meditation.  Never  before  this  hour,  did  the  en 
terprise  seem  so  perilous  and  uncertain  to  the  excellent 
Franciscan.  Columbus  was  carefully  recalling  the  details 
of  his  preparations,  while  Luis  was  thinking  of  the  maid 
of  Castile,  as  he  was  wont  to  term  Mercedes,  and  of  the 
many  weary  days  that  must  elapse  before  he  could  hope  to 
see  her  again. 

The  party  stopped  on  the  shore,  in  waiting  for  a  boat  to 
arrive,  at  a  place  where  they  were  removed  from  any 
houses.  There  Fray  Juan  Perez  took  his  leave  of  the  two 
adventurers.  The  long  silence  that  all  three  had  maintained, 
was  more  impressive  than  any  ordinary  discourse  could 
have  been ;  but  it  was  now  necessary  to  break  it.  The 
prior  was  deeply  affected,  and  it  was  some  little  time  before 
he  could  even  trust  his  voice  to  speak. 
7 


194  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Senor  Christoval,"  he  at  length  commenced,  "  it  is  now 
many  years  since  them  first  appeared  at  the  gate  of  Santa 
Maria  de  Rabida — years  of  friendship  and  pleasure  have 
they  proved  to  me." 

"  It  is  full  seven,  Fray  Juan  Perez,"  returned  Columbus, 
— "  seven  weary  years  have  they  proved  to  me,  as  a  soli 
citor  for  employment; — years  of  satisfaction,  father,  in  all 
that  concerneth  thee.  Think  not  that  I  can  ever  forget  the 
hour,  when  leading  Diego,  houseless,  impoverished,  wan 
derers,  journeying  on  foot,  I  stopped  to  tax  the  convent's 
charity  for  refreshment !  The  future  is  in  the  hands  of 
God,  but  the  past  is  imprinted  here," — laying  his  hand  on 
his  heart — "  and  can  never  be  forgotten.  Thou  hast  been 
my  constant  friend,  holy  prior,  and  that,  too,  when  it  was 
no  credit  to  favour  the  nameless  Genoese.  Should  my  es 
timation  ever  change  in  men's  opinions — " 

"Nay,  Senor  Almirante,  it  hath  changed  already," — 
eagerly  interrupted  the  prior.  "  Hast  thou  not  the  com 
mission  of  the  queen — the  support  of  Don  Fernando — the 
presence  of  this  young  noble,  though  still  as  an  incognito 
— the  wishes  of  all  the  learned  ?  Dost  thou  not  go  forth,  on 
this  great  voyage,  carrying  with  thee  more  of  our  hopes 
than  of  our  fears  ?" 

"  So  far  as  thou  art  concerned,  dear  Juan  Perez,  this  may 
be  so.  I  feel  that  I  have  all  thy  best  wishes  for  success ;  I 
know  that  I  shall  have  thy  prayers.  Few  in  Spain,  not 
withstanding,  will  think  of  Colon,  with  respect,  or  hope, 
while  we  are  wandering  on  the  great  desert  of  the  ocean, 
beyond  a  very  narrow  circle.  I  fear  me,  that,  even  at  this 
moment,  when  the  means  of  learning  the  truth  of  our  theo 
ries  is  in  actual  possession,  when  we  stand,  as  it  might  be, 
on  the  very  threshold  of  the  great  portal  which  opens  upon 
the  Indies,  that  few  believe  in  our  chances  of  success." 

"  Thou  hast  Dona  Isabella  of  thy  side,  Senor  !" 

"  And  Doiia  Mercedes  !"  put  in  Luis,  "  not  to  speak  of 
my  decided  and  true-hearted  aunt !" 

"  I  ask  but  a  few  brief  months,  Senores,"  returned  Colum 
bus,  his  face  turned  to  heaven  with  uncovered  head,  his 
grey  hair  floating  in  the  wind,  and  his  eye  kindling  with 
the  light  of  enthusiasm, — "  a  few  short  months,  that  will 
away  untold  with  the  happy — that  even  the  miserable 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  195 

may  find  supportable,  but  which  to  us  will  seem  ages,  must 
now  dispose  of  this  question.  Prior,  I  have  often  quitted 
the  shore  feeling  that  1  carried  my  life  in  my  hand,  con 
scious  of  all  the  dangers  of  the  ocean,  and  as  much  expect 
ing  death  as  a  happy  return ;  but,  at  this  glorious  moment 
no  doubts  beset  me ;  as  for  life,  I  know  it  is  in  the  keeping 
of  God's  care;  as  for  success,  I  feel  it  is  in  God's  wisdom  !" 

"  These  are  comfortable  sentiments,  at  so  serious  a  mo 
ment,  Senor,  and  I  devoutly  hope  the  end  will  justify  them. 
But,  yonder  is  thy  boat,  and  we  must  now  part.  Senor, 
my  son,  thou  knowest  that  my  spirit  will  be  with  thee  in 
this  mighty  undertaking." 

"Holy  prior,  remember  me  in  thy  prayers.  I  am  weak, 
and  have  need  of  this  support.  I  trust  much  to  the  efficacy 
of  thy  intercessions,  aided  by  those  of  thy  pious  brother 
hood.  Thou  wilt  bestow  on  us  a  few  masses  ?" 

"  Doubt  us  not,  my  friend  ;  till  that  La  Rabida  can  do  with 
the  blessed  Virgin,  or  the  saints,  shall  be  exercised,  without 
ceasing,  in  thy  behalf.  It  is  not  given  to  man  to  foresee 
the  events  that  are  controlled  by  Providtnce;  and,  though 
we  deem  this  enterprise  of  thine  so  certain,  and  so  reason 
able,  it  may  nevertheless  fail." 

"It  may  not  fail,  father;  God  hath  thus  far  directed  it, 
and  he  will  not  permit  it  to  fail." 

"  We  know  not,  Seilor  Colon  ;  our  wisdom  is  but  as 
a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  among  the  sands  of  this  shore,  as 
compared  with  his  inscrutable  designs.  I  was  about  to  say, 
as  it  is  possible  thou  may'st  return  a  disappointed,  a  de 
feated  man,  that  thou  wilt  still  find  the  gate  of  Santa  Ma 
ria  open  to  thee ;  since,  in  our  eyes,  it  is  as  meritorious  to 
attempt  nobly,  as  it  is  often,  in  the  eyes  of  others,  to  achieve 
successfully." 

"I  understand  thee,  holy  prior;  and  the  cup  and  the 
morsel  bestowed  on  the  young  Diego,  were  not  more  grate 
ful  than  this  proof  of  thy  friendship !  I  would  not  depart 
without  thy  blessing." 

"  Kneel,  then,  Senor ;  for,  in  this  act  it  will  not  be  Juan 
Perez  de  Marchena  that  will  speak,  and  pronounce,  but  the 
minister  of  God  and  the  church.  Even  these  sands  will  be 
no  unworthy  spot  to  receive  such  an  advantage." 

The  eyes  of  both  Columbus  and  the  prior  were  suffused 


196  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

with  tears,  for  at  that  moment  the  heart  of  each  was  touched 
with  the  emotions  natural  to  a  moment  so  solemn.  The 
first  loved  the  last,  because  he  had  proved  himself  a  friend, 
when  friends  were  few  and  timid ;  and  the  worthy  monk 
had  some  such  attachment  for  the  great  navigator  as  men 
are  apt  to  feel  for  those  they  have  cherished.  Each,  also, 
respected  and  appreciated  the  other's  motives,  and  there 
was  a  bond  of  union  in  their  common  reverence  for  the 
Christian  religion.  Columbus  kneeled  on  the  sands,  and 
received  the  benediction  of  his  friend,  with  the  meek  sub 
mission  of  faith,  and  with  some  such  feelings  of  reverence 
as  those  with  which  a  pious  son  would  have  listened  to  a 
blessing  pronounced  by  a  natural  father. 

"  And  thou,  young  lord,"  resumed  Fray  Juan  Perez,  with 
a  husky  voice — "  Thou,  too,  wilt  be  none  the  worse  for  tho 
prayers  of  an  aged  churchman." 

Like  most  of  that  age,  Luisf  in  the  midst  of  his  impetuous 
feelings,  and  youthful  propensities,  had  enshrined  in  his 
heart  an  image  c  f  the  Son  of  God,  and  entertained  an  ha 
bitual  respect  fov  holy  things.  He  knelt  without  hesitation, 
and  listened  to  the  trembling  words  of  the  priest  with  thank 
fulness  and  respect. 

"  Adieu,  holy  prior,"  said  Columbus,  squeezing  his  friend's 
hand.  "  Thou  hast  befriended  me  when  others  held  aloof; 
but  I  trust  in  God  that  tho  day  is  not  now  distant,  when 
thoBe  who  have  ever  shown  confidence  in  my  predictions, 
will  cease  to  feel  uneasiness  at  the  mention  of  my  name. 
Forget  us  in  all  things  but  thy  prayers,  for  a  few  short 
months,  and  then  expect  tidings  that,  of  a  verity,  shall  exalt 
Castile  to  a  point  of  renown  which  will  render  this  Conquest 
of  Granada  but  an  incident  of  passing  interest  amid  the 
glory  of  the  reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella !" 

This  was  not  said  boastfully,  but  with  the  quiet  earnest 
ness  of  one  who  saw  a  truth,  that  was  concealed  from  most 
eyes,  and  this  with  an  intensity  so  great,  that  the  effect  on 
his  moral  vision  produced  a  confidence  equalling  that 
which  is  the  fruit  of  the  evidence  of  the  senses  in  ordinary 
men.  The  prior  understood  him,  and  the  assurance  thus 
given  cheered  the  mind  of  the  worthy  Franciscan  long  after 
the  departure  of  his  friend.  They  embraced  and  separated. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  197 

By  this  time,  the  boat  of  Columbus  had  reached  the 
shore.  As  the  navigator  moved  slowly  towards  it,  a 
youthful  female  rushed  wildly  past  him  and  Luis,  and  re 
gardless  of  their  presence,  she  threw  her  arms  around  a 
young  mariner  who  had  quitted  the  boat  to  meet  her,  and 
sobbed  for  a  minute  on  his  bosom,  in  uncontrollable  agony, 
or  as  women  weep  in  the  first  outbreak  of  their  emotions. 

"  Come,  then,  Pepe,"  the  young  wife  at  length  said,  hur 
riedly,  and  with  low  earnestness,  as  one  speaks  who  would 
fain  persuade  herself  that  denial  was  impossible — "  come, 
Pepe ;  thy  boy  hath  wept  for  thee,  and  thou  hast  pushed 
this  matter,  already,  much  too  far." 

"  Nay,  Monica,"  returned  the  husband,  glancing  his  eye 
at  Columbus,  who  was  already  near  enough  to  hear  his 
words — "  thou  knowest  it  is  by  no  wish  of  mine  that  I  am 
to  sail  on  this  unknown  voyage.  Gladly  would  I  abandon 
it,  but  the  orders  of  the  queen  are  too  strong  for  a  poor 
mariner  like  me,  and  they  must  be  obeyed." 

"  This  is  foolish,  Pepe,"  returned  the  woman,  pulling  at 
her  husband's  doublet  to  drag  him  from  the  water-side — "I 
have  had  enough  of  this ;  sufficient  to  break  my  heart. 
Come,  then,  and  look  again  upon  thy  boy." 

"  Thou  dost  not  see  that  the  admiral  is  near,  Monica, 
and  we  are  showing  him  disrespect.'* 

The  habitual  deference  that  was  paid  by  the  low  to  the 
high,  induced  the  woman,  for  a  moment,  to  pause.  She 
looked  imploringly  at  Columbus,  her  fine  dark  eyes  became 
eloquent  with  the  feelings  of  a  wife  and  mother,  and  then 
she  addressed  the  great  navigator,  himself. 

"  Senor,"  she  sai(t,  eagerly,  "  you  can  have  no  further 
need  of  Pepe.  He  hath  helped  to  carry  your  vessels  to 
Huelva,  and  now  his  wife  and  boy  call  for  him  at  home." 

Columbus  was  touched  with  the  manner  of  the  woman, 
which  was  not  entirely  without  a  show  of  that  wavering  of 
reason  which  is  apt  to  accompany  excessive  grief  and  he 
answered  her  less  strongly,  than,  at  a  moment  so  critical, 
he  might  otherwise  have  been  disposed  to  do  to  ^ne  who 
was  inciting  to  disobedience. 

"  Thy  husband  is  honoured  in  being  chosen  to  be  my 
companion  in  the  great  voyage,"  he  said.  "  Instead  of  be- 
17* 


198  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

wailing  his  fate,  thou  would'st  act  more  like  a  brave  mari 
ner's  wife,  in  exulting  in  his  good  fortune." 

"  Believe  him  not,  Pepe.  He  speaketh  under  the  Evil 
One's  advice  to  tempt  thee  to  destruction.  He  hath  talked 
blasphemy,  and  belied  the  word  of  God,  by  saying  that  the 
world  is  round,  and  that  one  may  sail  east  by  steering  west, 
that  he  might  ruin  thee  and  others,  by  tempting  ye  all  to 
follow  him  I" 

"  And  why  should  I  do  this,  good  woman  ?"  demanded 
the  admiral.  "  What  have  I  to  gain,  by  the  destruction  of 
thy  husband,  or  by  the  destruction  of  any  of  his  com 
rades?" 

"  I  know  not — I  care  not — Pepe  is  all  to  me,  and  he 
shall  not  go  with  you,  on  this  mad  and  wicked  voyage.  No 
good  can  come  of  a  journey  that  is  begun  by  belying  the 
truths  of  God !" 

"  And  what  particular  evil  dost  thou  dread,  in  this,  more 
than  in  another  voyage,  that  thou  thus  hang'st  upon  thy 
husband,  and  usest  such  discourse  to  one  who  beareth  their 
Highnesses'  authority  for  that  he  doeth.  Thou  knewest  he 
was  a  mariner  when  thou  wert  wedded,  and  yet  thou 
would'st  fain  prevent  him  from  serving  the  queen,  as  be- 
cometh  his  station  and  duty." 

"  He  may  go  against  the  Moor,  or  the  Portuguese,  or  the 
people  of  Inghleterra,  but  I  would  not  that  he  voyage  in 
the  service  of  the  Prince  of  Darkness.  Why  tell  us  that 
the  earth  is  round,  Senor,  when  our  eyes  show  that  it  is 
flat?  And  if  round,  how  can  a  vessel  that  hath  descended 
the  side  of  the  earth  for  days,  ever  return  ?  The  sea  doth 
not  flow  upward,  neither  can  a  cara^pel  mount  the  water 
fall.  And  when  thou  hast  wandered  about  for  months  in 
the  vacant  ocean,  in  what  manner  wilt  thou,  and  those  with 
thee,  ever  discover  the  direction  that  must  be  taken,  to  re 
turn  whence  ye  all  sailed  ?  Oh  !  Senor,  Palos  is  but  a  little 
town,  and  once  lost  sight  of,  in  such  a  confusion  of  ideas, 
it  will  never  be  regained." 

"  Idle  and  childish,  as  this  may  seem,"  observed  Colum 
bus,  turning  quietly  to  Luis,  •"  it  is  as  reasonable  as  much 
that  I  have  been  doomed  to  hear  from  the  learned,  during 
the  last  sixteen  years.  When  the  night  of  ignorance  ob 
scures  the  mind,  the  thoughts  conjure  arguments  a  thousand 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  199 

times  more  vain  and  frivolous  than  the  phenomena  of  na 
ture  that  it  fancies  so  unreasonable.  I  will  try  the  effect 
of  religion  on  this  woman,  converting  her  present  feelings 
on  that  head,  from  an  enemy  into  an  ally. — Monica,"  call- 
ing  her  kindly  and  familiarly  by  name,  "  art  thou  a  Chris 
tian?" 

"Blessed  Maria!  Senor  Almirante,  what  else  should  I 
be  ?  Dost  think  Pepe  would  have  married  a  Moorish  girl? " 

"  Listen,  then,  to  me,  and  learn  how  unlike  a  believer 
thou  conductest.  The  Moor  is  not  the  only  infidel,  but  this 
earth  groaneth  with  the  burthen  of  their  numbers,  and  of 
their  sins.  The  sands  on  this  shore  are  not  as  numerous 
as  the  unbelievers  in  the  single  kingdom  of  Cathay ;  for, 
as  yet,  God  hath  allotted  but  a  small  portion  of  the  earth  to 
those  who  have  faith  in  the  mediation  of  his  Son.  Even 
the  sepulchre  of  Christ  is  yet  retained  by  infidel  hands." 

"  This  have  I  heard,  Senor ;  and  'tis  a  thousand  pities 
the  faith  is  so  weak  in  those  who  have  vowed  to  obey 
the  law,  that  so  crying  an  evil  hath  never  been  cured !" 

"  Hast  thou  not  been  told  that  such  is  to  be  the  fate  oJ 
the  world,  for  a  time*  but  that  light  will  dawn  when  the 
word  shall  pass,  like  the  sound  of  trumpets,  into  the  ears 
of  infidels,  and  when  the  earth,  itself,  shall  be  but  one  vast 
temple,  filled  with  the  praises  of  God,  the  love  of  his  name, 
and  obedience  to  his  will?" 

"  Senor,  the  good  fathers  of  La  Rabida,  and  our  own 
parish  priests,  often  comfort  us  with  these  hopes." 

"  And  hast  thou  seen  nought  of  late  to  encourage  that 
hope — to  cause  thee  to  think  that  God  is  mindful  of  his  peo 
ple,  and  that  new  light  is  beginning  to  burst  on  the  dark 
ness  of  Spain  ?" 

"  Pepe,  his  excellency  must  mean  the  late  miracle  at  the 
convent,  where  they  say  that  real  tears  were  seen  to  fall 
from  the  eyes  of  the  image  of  the  holy  Maria,  as  she  gazed 
at  the  child  that  lay  on  her  bosom." 

"  I  mean  not  that,"  interrupted  Columbus,  a  little  sternly, 
though  he  crossed  himself,  even  while  he  betrayed  dissatis 
faction  at  the  allusion  to  a  miracle  that  was  much  too 
vulgar  for  his  manly  understanding — "  I  mean  no  such  ques 
tionable  wonder,  which  it  is  permitted  us  to  believe,  or  not, 
os  it  may  be  supported  by  the  church's  authority.  Can  thy 


20U  MEJRcEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

faith  and  zeai  point  to  no  success  of  the  two  sovereigns,  in 
which  the  power  of  God,  as  exercised  to  the  advancement 
of  the  faith,  hath  been  made  signally  apparent  to  be 
lievers  ?" 

"He  meaneth  the  expulsion  of  the  Moor,  Pepe!"  the 
woman  exclaimed,  glancing  quickly  towards  her  husband, 
with  a  look  of  pleasure,  "  that  hath  happened  of  late,  they 
say,  by  conquering  the  city  of  Granada ;  into  which  place, 
they  tell  me,  Dona  Isabella  hath  marched  in  triumph." 

"  In  that  conquest,  thou  seest  the  commencement  of  the 
great  acts  of  our  time.  Granada  hath  now  its  churches  ; 
and  the  distant  land  of  Cathay  will  shortly  follow  her  ex 
ample.  These  are  the  doings  of  the  Lord,  foolish  woman  ; 
and  in  holding  back  thy  husband  from  this  great  undertak 
ing,  thou  hinderest  him  from  purchasing  a  signal  reward  in 
heaven,  and  may  unwittingly  be  the  instrument  of  casting 
a  curse,  instead  of  a  blessing,  on  that  very  boy,  whose 
image  now  filleth  thy  thoughts  more  than  that  of  his  Maker 
and  Redeemer." 

The  woman  appeared  bewildered,  first  looking  at  the  ad 
miral,  and  then  at  her  husband,  after  which  she  bowed  her 
head  low,  and  devoutly  crossed  herself.  Recovering  from 
this  self-abasement,  she  again  turned  towards  Columbus, 
demanding  earnestly — 

"  And  you,  Senor — do  you  sail  with  the  wish  and  hope 
of  serving  God  ?" 

"  Such  is  my  principal  aim,  good  woman.  I  call  on 
Heaven  itself,  to  witness  the  truth  of  what  I  say.  May  my 
voyage  prosper,  only,  as  I  tell  thee  nought  but  truth !" 

"And  you,  too,  Senor?"  turning  quickly  to  Luis  de 
Bobadilla ;  "  is  it  to  serve  God  that  you  also  go  on  this  un 
usual  voyage?" 

"  If  not  at  the  orders  of  God,  himself,  my  good  woman, 
it  is,  at  least,  at  the  bidding  of  an  angel !" 

"  Dost  thou  think  it  is  so,  Pepe  1  Have  we  been  thus 
deceived,  and  has  so  much  evil  been  said  of  the  admiral 
and  his  motives,  wrongfully  ?" 

"What  hath  been  said?"  quietly  demanded  Columbus, 
"  Speak  freely  ;  thou  hast  nought  to  dread  from  my  dis 
pleasure." 

"  Senor,  you  have  your  enemies,  as  well  as  another,  and 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  201 

the  wives,  and  mothers,  and  the  betrothed  of  Palos,  have 
not  been  slow  to  give  vent  to  their  feelings.  In  the  first 
place,  they  say  that  you  are  poor." 

"  That  is  so  true  and  manifest,  good  woman,  it  would  be 
idle  to  deny  it.  Is  poverty  a  crime  at  Palos  ?" 

"  The  poor  are  little  respected,  Senor,  in  all  this  region. 
I  know  not  why,  for  to  me  we  seem  to  be  as  the  rest,  bul 
few  respect  us.  Then  they  say,  Senor,  that  you  are  not  a 
Castilian,  but  a  Genoese." 

"This  is  also  true;  is  that,  too,  a  crime  among  the 
mariners  of  Moguer,  who  ought  to  prize  a  people  as  much 
renowned  for  their  deeds  on  the  sea,  as  those  of  the  superb 
republic?" 

"  I  know  not,  Senor ;  but  many  hold  it  to  be  a  disadvan 
tage  not  to  belong  to  Spain,  and  particularly  to  Castile, 
which  is  the  country  of  Dona  Isabella,  herself;  and  how 
can  it  be  as  honourable  to  be  a  Genoese  as  to  be  a  Spaniard? 
I  should  like  it  better  were  Pepe  to  sail  with  one  who  is  a 
Spaniard,  and  that,  too,  of  Paios  or  Moguer." 

"  Thy  argument  is  ingenious,  if  not  conclusive,"  returned 
Columbus,  smiling,  the  only  outward  exhibition  of  feeling 
he  betrayed  —  "  but  cannot  one  who  is  both  poor  and  a 
Genoese  serve  God  ?" 

"  No  doubt,  Senor ;  and  I  think  better  of  this  voyage 
since  I  know  your  motive,  and  since  I  have  seen  you  and 
spoken  with  you.  Still,  it  is  a  great  sacrifice  for  a  young 
wife  to  let  her  husband  sail  on  an  expedition  so  distrusted, 
and  he  the  father  of  her  only  boy !" 

"  Here  is  a  young  noble,  an  only  son,  a  lover,  and  that 
too  of  impetuous  feelings,  an  only  child  withal,  rich, 
honoured,  and  able  to  go  whither  he  will,  who  not  only 
embarketh  with  me,  but  embarketh  by  the  consent — nay,  1 
had  better  say,  by  the  orders  of  his  mistress !" 

"  Is  this  so,  Senor  ?"  the  wife  asked,  eagerly. 

"  So  true,  my  good  woman,  that  my  greatest  hopes  de 
pend  on  this  voyage.  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  I  went  at  the 
bidding  of  an  angel  ?" 

"  Ah  !  these  young  lords  have  seductive  tongues  !  But, 
Senor  Almirante,  since  such  is  your  quality,  they  say, 
moreover,  that  to  you  this  voyage  can  only  bring  honours 
and  good,  while  it  may  bring  misery  and  death  on  your 


202  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

followers.  Poor  and  unknown,  it  maketh  you  a  high  officer 
of  the  queen ;  and  some  think  that  the  Venetian  galleys 
will  be  none  the  more  heavily  freighted,  should  you  meet 
them  on  the  high  seas.'" 

"  And  in  what  can  all  this  harm  thy  husband  ?  I  go 
whithersoever  he  goeth,  share  his  dangers,  and  expose  life 
for  life  with  him.  '  If  there  is  gold  gained  by  the  adventure, 
he  will  not  be  forgotten  ;  and  if  heaven  is  made  any  nearer 
to  us,  by  our  dangers  and  hardships,  Pepe  will  not  be  a 
loser.  At  the  last  great  reckoning,  woman,  we  shall  not 
be  asked  who  is  poor,  or  who  is  a  Genoese." 

"  This  is  true,  Senor ;  and  yet  it  is  hard  for  a  young 
wife  to  part  from  her  husband.  Dost  thou  wish,  in  truth, 
to  sail  with  the  admiral,  Pepe  ?" 

"  It  matters  little  with  me,  Monica :  I  am  commanded  to 
serve  the  queen,  and  we  mariners  have  no  right  to  question 
her  authority.  Now  I  have  heard  his  excellency's  dis 
course,  I  think  less  of  the  affair  than  before." 

"  If  God  is  really  to  be  served  in  this  voyage,"  contin 
ued  the  woman,  with  dignity,  "  thou  should'st  not  be  back 
ward,  more  than  another,  my  husband.  Senor,  will  you 
suffer  Pepe  to  pass  the  night  with  his  family,  on  condition 
that  he  goeth  on  board  the  Santa  Maria  in  the  morning  ?" 

"  What  certainty  have  I  that  this  condition  will  be  re 
spected  1" 

"  Senor,  we  are  both  Christians,  and  serve  the  same  God 
— have  been  redeemed  by  the  same  Saviour." 

"  This  is  true,  and  I  will  confide  in  it.  Pepe,  thou  canst 
remain  until  the  morning,  when  I  shall  expect  thee  at  thy 
station.  There  will  be  oarsmen  enough,  without  thee." 

The  woman  looked  her  thanks,  and  Columbus  thought 
he  read  an  assurance  of  good  faith  in  her  noble  Spanish 
manner,  and  lofty  look.  As  some  trifling  preparations 
were  to  be  made  before  the  boat  could  quit  the  shore,  the 
admiral  and  Luis  paced  the  sands  the  while,  engaged  in 
deep  discourse. 

"  This  hath  been  a  specimen  of  what  I  have  had  to  over 
come  and  endure,  in  order  to  obtain  even  yonder  humble 
means  for  effecting  the  good  designs  of  Providence,"  observed 
Columbus,  mournfully,  though  he  spoke  without  acrimony. 
"  It  is  a  crime  to  be  poor — to  be  a  Genoese — to  be  aught 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  203 

else  than  the  very  thing  that  one's  judges  and  masters  fan 
cy  themselves  to  be !  The  day  will  come,  Conde  de  Llera, 
when  Genoa  shall  think  herself  in  no  manner  disgraced, 
in  having  given  birth  to  Christofero  Colombo,  and  when  your 
proud  Castile  will  be  willing  to  share  with  her  in  the  dis 
honour !  Thou  little  know'st,  young  lord,  how  far  thou 
art  on  the  road  to  renown,  and  towards  high  deeds,  in 
having  been  born  noble,  and  the  master  of  large  posses 
sions.  Thou  seest  me,  here,  a  man  already  stricken  in 
years,  with  a  head  whitened  by  time  and  sufferings,  and 
yet  am  I  only  on  the  threshold  of  the  undertaking  that  is 
to  give  my  name  a  place  amongst  those  of  the  men  who 
have  served  God,  and  advanced  the  welfare  of  their  fellow- 
creatures." 

"  Is  not  this  the  course  of  things,  Senor,  throughout  the 
earth  ? — Do  not  those  who  find  themselves  placed  beneath 
the  level  of  their  merits,  struggle  to  rise  to  the  condition  to 
which  nature  intended  them  to  belong,  while  those  whom 
fortune  hath  favoured  through  their  ancestors,  are  too  often 
content  to  live  on  honours  that  they  have  not  themselves 
won  ?  I  see  nought  in  this  but  the  nature  of  man,  and  the 
course  of  the  world." 

"  Thou  art  right,  Luis,  but  philosophy  and  fact  are  dif 
ferent  matters.  •  We  may  reason  calmly  on  principles, 
when  their  application  in  practice  causeth  much  pain. 
Thou  hast  a  frank  and  manly  nature,  young  man ;  one 
that  dreadeth  neither  the  gibe  of  the  Christian,  nor  the  lance 
of  the  Moor,  and  wilt  answer  to  any,  in  fearlessness  and 
truth.  A  Castilian  thyself,  dost  thou,  too,  really  think  one 
of  thy  kingdom  better  than  one  of  Genoa  ?" 

"  Not  when  he  of  Genoa  is  Christoval  Colon,  Sefior,  and 
he  of  Castile  is  only  Luis  de  Bobadilla,"  answered  the 
young  man,  laughing. 

"  Nay,  I  will  not  be  denied — hast  thou  any  such  notion 
as  this,  which  the  wife  of  Pepe  hath  so  plainly  avowed?" 

"What  will  you,  Senor  Christoval? — Man  is  the  same 
in  Spain,  that  he  is  among  the  Italians,  or  the  English.  Is 
it  not  his  besetting  sin  to  think  good  of  himself,  and  evil  of 
his  neighbour?" 

"A  plain  question,  that  is  loyally  put,  may  not  be  an 
swered  with  a  truism,  Luis." 


204  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Nor  a  civil,  honest  reply  confounded  with  one  that  is 
evasive.  We  of  Castile  are  humble  and  most  devout  Chris 
tians,  by  the  same  reason  that  we  think  ourselves  faultless, 
and  the  rest  of  mankind  notable  sinners.  By  San  lago,  of 
blessed  faith  and  holy  memory  1  it  is  enough  to  make  a 
people  vain,  to  have  produced  such  a  queen  as  Dona  Isa 
bella,  and  such  a  maiden  as  Mercedes  de  Valverde !" 

"  This  is  double  loyalty,  for  it  is  being  true  to  the  queen 
and  to  thy  mistress.  With  this  must  I  satisfy  myself,  even 
though  it  be  no  answer.  But,  Castilian  though  I  am  not, 
even  the  Guzmans  have  not  ventured  on  the  voyage  to 
Cathay,  and  the  House  of  Trastamara  may  yet  be  glad  to 
acknowledge  its  indebtedness  to  a  Genoese.  God  hath  no 
respect  to  worldly  condition,  or  worldly  boundaries,  in 
choosing  his  agents,  for  most  of  the  saints  were  despised 
Hebrews,  while  Jesus,  himself,  came  of  Nazareth.  We 
shall  see,  we  shall  see,  young  lord,  what  three  months  will 
reveal  to  the  admiration  of  mankind." 

"  Senor  Almirante,  I  hope  and  pray  it  may  be  the  island 
of  Cipango,  and  the  realms  of  the  Great  Khan ;  should  it 
not  be  so,  we  are  men  who  can  not  only  bear  our  toils, 
but  who  can  bear  our  disappointments." 

"  Of  disappointments  in  this  matter,  Don  Luis,  I  look  for 
none, — -now  that  I  have  the  royal  faith  of  Isabella,  and 
these  good  caravels  to  back  me ;  the  drudge  who  saileth 
from  Madeira  to  Lisbon  is  not  more  certain  of  gaining  his 
port,  than  I  am  certain  of  gaining  Cathay." 

««  No  doubt,  Senor  Colon,  that  what  any  navigator  can 
do,  you  can  do  and  will  perform ;  nevertheless,  disappoint 
ment  would  seem  to  be  the  lot  of  man,  and  it  might  be  well 
for  all  of  us  to  be  prepared  to  meet  it." 

"  The  sun  that  is  just  sinking  beyond  yon  hill,  Luis,  is 
not  plainer  before  my  eyes  than  this  route  to  the  Indies. — 
I  have  seen  it,  these  seventeen  years,  distinct  as  the  vessels 
in  the  river,  bright  as  the  polar  star,  and,  I  make  little  doubt, 
as  faithfully.  It  is  well  to  talk  of  disappointments,  since 
they  are  the  lot  of  man ;  and  who  can  know  this  better 
than  one  that  hath  been  led  on  by  false  hopes  during  aH  the 
better  years  of  his  life ;  now  encouraged  by  princes,  states 
men,  and  churchmen ;  and  now  derided  and  scoffed  at,  as 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  205 

a  vain  projector,  that  hath  neither  reason  nor  fact  to  sus 
tain  him !" 

"By  my  new  patron,  San  Pedro!  Senor  Almirante,  but 
you  have  led  a  most  grievous  life,  for  this  last  age,  or  so. 
The  next  three  months  will,  indeed,  be  months  of  moment 
to  you." 

"  Thou  little  knowest  the  calmness  of  conviction  and  con 
fidence,  Luis,"  returned  Columbus,  "  if  thou  fanciest  any 
doubts  beset  me  as  the  hour  of  trial  approacheth.  This  day 
is  the  happiest  I  have  known,  for  many  a  weary  year ;  for, 
though  the  preparations  are  not  great,  and  our  barks  are 
but  slight  and  of  trifling  bulk,  yonder  lie  the  means  through 
which  a  light,  that  hath  long  been  hid,  is  about  to  break 
upon  the  world,  and  to  raise  Castile  to  an  elevation  surpass 
ing  that  of  any  other  Christian  nation." 

"  Thou  must  regret,  Senor  Colon,  that  it  hath  not  been 
Genoa,  thy  native  land,  that  is  now  about  to  receive  this 
great  boon,  after  having  merited  it  by  generous  and  free 
gifts,  in  behalf  of  this  great  voyage." 

"  This  hath  not  been  the  least  of  my  sorrows,  Luis.  It 
is  hard  to  desert  one's  own  country,  and  to  seek  new  con 
nections,  as  life  draweth  to  a  close,  though  we  mariners,  per 
haps,  feel  the  tie  less  than  those  who  never  quit  the  land. 
But  Genoa  would  have  none  of  me ;  and  if  the  child  is 
bound  to  love  and  honour  the  parent,  so  is  the  parent 
equally  bound  to  protect  and  foster  the  child.  When  the 
last  forgets  its  duty,  the  first  is  not  to  be  blamed  if  it  seek 
support  wherever  it  may  be  found.  There  are  limits  to 
every  human  duty  ;  those  we  owe  to  God  alone,  never  ceas 
ing  to  require  their  fulfilment,  and  our  unceasing  attention. 
Genoa  hath  proved  but  a  stern  mother  to  me ;  and  though 
nought  could  induce  me  to  raise  a  hand  against  her,  she 
hath  no  longer  any  claims  on  my  service.  Besides,  when 
the  object  in  view  is  the  service  of  God,  it  mattereth  little 
with  which  of  his  creatures  we  league  as  instruments. 
One  cannot  easily  hate  the  land  of  his  birth,  but  injustice 
may  lead  him  to  cease  to  love  it.  The  tie  is  mutual,  and 
when  the  country  ceaseth  to  protect  person,  character,  pro 
perty,  or  rights,  the  subject  is  liberated  from  all  his  duties. 
If  allegiance  goeth  with  protection,  so  should  protection  go 
with  allegiance.  Dona  Isabella  is  now  my  mistress,  and, 
18 


21)6  MERCEDES   OF    CASTILE. 

next  to  God,  her  will  I  serve,  and  serve  only.  Castile  is 
henceforth  my  country." 

At  this  moment  it  was  announced  that  the  pinnace  waited, 
and  the  two  adventurers  immediately  embarked. 

It  must  have  required  all  the  deep  and  fixed  convictions 
of  an  ardent  temperament,  to  induce  Columbus  to  rejoice 
that  he  had,  at  length,  obtained  the  means  of  satisfying  his 
longings  for  discovery,  when  he  came  coolly  to  consider 
what  those  means  were.  The  names  of  his  vessels,  the 
Santa  Maria,  the  Pinta,  and  the  Nina,  have  already  been 
mentioned,  and  some  allusions  have  been  made  to  their  size 
and  construction.  Still,  it  may  aid  the  reader  in  forming 
his  opinions  of  the  character  of  this  great  enterprise,  if  we 
give  a  short  sketch  of  the  vessels,  more  especially  that  in 
which  Columbus  and  Luis  de  Bobadilla  were  now  received. 
She  was,  of  course,  the  Santa  Maria,  a  ship  of  nearly  twice 
the  burthen  of  the  craft  next  her  in  size.  This  vessel  had 
been  prepared  with  more  care  than  the  others,  and  some 
attention  had  been  paid  to  the  dignity  and  comfort  of  the 
Admiral  she  was  destined  to  carry.  Not  only  was  she 
decked  in,  but  a  poop,  or  round-house,  was  constructed  on 
her  quarter-deck,  in  which  he  had  his  berth.  No  proper 
notion  can  be  obtained  of  the  appearance  of  the  Santa  Ma 
ria,  from  the  taunt-rigged,  symmetrical,  and  low-sterned 
ships  of  the  present  time ;  for,  though  the  Santa  Maria  had 
both  a  poop  and  top-gallant-forecastle,  as  they  would  be 
termed  to-day,  neither  was  constructed  in  the  snug  and  un 
obtrusive  manner  that  is  now  used.  The  poop,  or  round 
house,  was  called  a  castle,  to  which  it  had  some  fancied  re 
semblance,  while  the  top-gallant-forecastle,  in  which  most  of 
the  people  lived,  was  out  of  proportion  large,  rose  like  a 
separate  structure  on  the  bows  of  the  vessel,  and  occupied 
about  a  third  of  the  deck,  from  forward  aft.  To  those  who 
never  saw  the  shipping  that  was  used  throughout  Europe, 
a  century  since,  it  will  not  be  very  obvious  how  vessels  so 
small  could  rise  so  far  above  the  water,  in  safety ;  but  this 
difficulty  may  be  explained ;  many  very  old  ships,  that  had 
some  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  construction,  existing  within 
the  memory  of  man,  and  a  few  having  fallen  under  our  own 
immediate  inspection.  The  bearings  of  these  vessels  were 
&t  the  loaded  water-lines,  or  very  little  above  them,  and  they 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  207 

tumbled-home,  in  a  way  to  reduce  their  beams  on  their  poop 
decks  nearly  if  not  quite  a  fourth.  By  these  precautions, 
their  great  height  out  of  the  water  was  less  dangerous  than 
might  otherwise  have  been  the  case ;  and  as  they  were  uni 
formly  short  ships,  possessing  the  advantages  of  lifting 
easily  forward,  and  were,  moreover,  low-waisted,  they 
might  be  considered  safe  m  a  sea,  rather  than  the  reverse. 
Being  so  short,  too,  they  had  great  beam  for  their  tonnage, 
which,  if  not  an  element  of  speed,  was  at  least  one  of  secu 
rity.  Although  termed  ships,  these  vessels  were  not  rigged 
in  the  manner  of  the  ships  of  the  present  day,  their  standing 
spars  being  relatively  longer  than  those  now  in  use,  while 
their  upper,  or  shifting  spars,  were  much  less  numerous, 
and  much  less  important  than  those  which  now  point  up 
wards,  like  needles,  towards  the  clouds.  Neither  had  a 
ship  necessarily  the  same  number  of  spars,  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  as  belong  to  a  ship  in  the  nineteenth.  The  term 
itself,  as  it  was  used  in  all  the  southern  countries  of  Europe, 
being  directly  derived  from  the  Latin  word  nam.s,  was  ap 
plied  rather  as  a  generic  than  as  a  distinctive  term,  and  by 
no  means  inferred  any  particular  construction,  or  particular 
rig.  The  caravel  was  a  ship,  in  this  sense,  though  not 
strictly  so,  perhaps,  when  we  descend  to  the  more  minute 
classification  of  seamen. 

Much  stress  has  been  justly  laid  on  the  fact,  that  two  of 
the  vessels  in  this  extraordinary  enterprise  were  undecked. 
In  that  day,  when  most  sea  voyages  were  made  in  a  direc 
tion  parallel  to  the  main  coasts,  and  when  even  those  that 
extended  to  the  islands  occupied  but  a  very  few  days,  ves 
sels  were  seldom  far  from  the  land ;  and  it  was  the  custom 
of  the  mariners,  a  practice  that  has  extended  to  our  own 
times,  in  the  southern  seas  of  Europe,  to  seek  a  port  at  the 
approach  of  bad  weather.  Under  such  circumstances, 
decks  were  by  no  means  as  essential,  either  for  the  security 
of  the  craft,  the  protection  of  the  cargo,  or  the  comfort  of 
the  people,  as  in  those  cases  in  which  the  full  fury  of  the 
elements  must  be  encountered.  Nevertheless,  the  reader 
is  not  to  suppose  a  vessel  entirely  without  any  upper  cover 
ing,  because  she  was  not  classed  among  those  that  were 
decked ;  even  such  caravels,  when  used  on  the  high  seas, 
usually  possessing  quarter-decks  and  forecastles,  with  con- 


208  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

necting  gangways;  depending  on  tarpaulings,  and  other 
similar  preventives,  to  exclude  the  wash  of  the  sea  from 
injuring  their  cargoes. 

After  all  these  explanations,  however,  it  must  be  con- 
ceded,  that  the  preparations  for  the  great  undertaking  of 
Columbus,  while  the  imaginations  of  landsmen  probably 
aggravate  their  incompleteness,  strike  the  experienced  sea* 
man  as  altogether  inadequate  to  its  magnitude  and  risks. 
That  the  mariners  of  the  day  deemed  them  positively  insuf 
ficient  is  improbable,  for  men  as  accustomed  to  the  ocean 
as  the  Pinzons,  would  not  have  volunteered  to  risk  their 
vessel,  their  money,  and  their  persons,  in  an  expedition  that 
did  not  possess  the  ordinary  means  of  security. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

M  O'er  the  glad  waters  of  the  dark  blue  sea, 
Our  thoughts  as  boundless,  and  our  souls  as  free, 
Far  as  the  breeze  can  bear,  the  billows  foam, 
Survey  our  empire,  and  behold  our  home." 

BYRON. 

As  Columbus  sought  his  apartment,  soon  after  he  reached 
the  deck  of  the  Holy  Maria,  Luis  had  no  farther  oppor 
tunity  to  converse  with  him  that  night.  He  occupied  a 
part  of  the  same  room,  it  is  true,  under  the  assumed  appel 
lation  of  the  admiral's  secretary ;  but  the  great  navigator 
was  so  much  engaged  with  duties  necessary  to  be  discharged 
previously  to  sailing,  that  he  could  not  be  interrupted,  and 
the  young  man  paced  the  narrow  limits  of  the  deck  until 
near  midnight,  thinking,  as  usual,  of  Mercedes,  and  of  his 
return,  when,  seeking  his  mattress,  he  found  Columbus 
already  buried  in  a  deep  sleep. 

The  following  day  was  Friday ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  re 
mark,  that  the  greatest  and  most  successful  voyage  that  has 
ever  occurred  on  this  globe,  was  commenced  on  a  day  of 
the  week  that  seamen  have  long  deemed  to  be  so  inaua- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  209 

picious  to  nautical  enterprises,  that  they  have  often  deferred 
sailing,  in  order  to  avoid  the  unknown,  but  dreaded  con 
sequences.  Luis  was  among  the  first  who  appeared  again 
on  deck,  and  casting  his  eyes  upward,  he  perceived  that 
the  admiral  was  already  afoot,  and  in  possession  of  the 
summit  of  the  high  poop,  or  castle,  whose  narrow  limits, 
indeed,  were  deemed  sacred  to  the  uses  of  the  privileged, 
answering,  in  this  particular,  to  the  more  extended  prome 
nade  of  the  modern  quarter-deck.  Here  it  was  that  he, 
who  directed  the  movements  of  a  squadron,  overlooked  its 
evolutions,  threw  out  his  signals,  made  his  astronomical 
observations,  and  sought  his  recreation  in  the  open  air. 
The  whole  space  on  board  the  Santa  Maria  might  have 
been  some  fifteen  feet  in  one  direction,  and  not  quite  as 
much  in  the  other,  making  a  convenient  look-out,  more 
from  its  exclusion  and  retirement,  than  from  its  dimensions. 
As  soon  as  the  admiral — or  Don  Christoval,  as  he  was 
now  termed  by  the  Spaniards,  since  his  appointment  to  his 
present  high  rank,  which  gave  him  the  rights  and  condition 
of  a  noble — as  soon  as  Don  Christoval  caught  a  glance  of 
Luis's  eye,  he  made  a  sign  for  the  young  man  to  ascend, 
and  take  a  position  at  his  side.  Although  the  expedition 
was  so  insignificant  in  numbers  and  force,  not  equalling,  in 
the  latter  particular,  the  power  of  a  single  modern  sloop  of 
war,  the  authority  of  the  queen,  the  gravity  and  mien  of 
Columbus  himself,  and,  most  of  all,  its  own  mysterious 
and  unwonted  object,  had,  from  the  first,  thrown  around  it 
a  dignity  that  was  disproportioned  to  its  visible  means.  Ac 
customed  to  control  the  passions  of  turbulent  men,  and 
aware  of  the  great  importance  of  impressing  his  followers 
with  a  sense  of  his  high  station  and  influence  with  the 
court,  Columbus  had  kept  much  aloof  from  familiar  inter 
course  with  his  subordinates,  acting  principally  through  the 
Pinzons  and  the  other  commanders,  lest  he  might  lose  some 
portion  of  that  respect  which  he  foresaw  would  be  neces 
sary  to  his  objects.  It  needed  not  his  long  experience  to 
warn  him  that  men  crowded  together  in  so  small  a  space, 
could  only  be  kept  in  their  social  or  professional  stations, 
by  the  most  rigid  observance  of  forms  and  decorum,  and 
he  had  observed  a  due  attention  to  these  great  requisites,  in 
prescribing  the  manner  in  which  his  own  personal  service 
18* 


210  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

should  be  attended  to,  and  his  personal  dignity  supported. 
This  is  one  of  the  great  secrets  of  the  discipline  of  a  ship, 
for  they  who  are  incapable  of  reasoning,  can  be  made  to 
feel,  and  no  man  is  apt  to  despise  him  who  is  well  en 
trenched  behind  the  usages  of  deference  and  reserve.  We 
see,  daily,  the  influence  of  an  appellation,  or  a  commission, 
even  the  turbulent  submitting  to  its  authority,  when  they 
might  resist  the  same  lawful  commands,  issuing  from  an 
apparently  less  elevated  source. 

*'  Thou  wilt  keep  much  near  my  person,  Senor  Gutier 
rez,"  said  the  admiral,  using  the  feigned  name,  which  Luis 
affected  to  conceal  under  that  of  Pedro  de  Munos,  as  he 
knew  a  ship  was  never  safe  from  eaves-droppers,  and  was 
willing  that  the  young  noble  should  pass  as  the  gentleman 
of  the  king's  bedchamber ;  "  this  is  our  station,  and  here 
we  must  remain,  much  of  our  time,  until  God,  in  his  holy 
and  wise  providence,  shall  have  opened  the  way  for  us  to 
Cathay,  and  brought  us  near  the  throne  of  the  Great  Khan. 
Here  is  our  course,  and  along  this  track  of  pathless  ocean 
it  is  my  intention  to  steer." 

As  Columbus  spoke,  he  pointed  to  a  chart  that  lay  spread 
before  him  on  an  arm-chest,  passing  a  finger  calmly  along 
the  line  he  intended  to  pursue.  The  coast  of  Europe,  in 
its  general  outlines,  was  laid  down  on  this  chart,  with  as 
much  accuracy  as  the  geographical  knowledge  of  the  day 
would  furnish,  and  a  range  of  land  extended  southward  as 
far  as  Guinea,  all  beyond  which  region  was  terra  incognita 
to  the  learned  world  at  that  time.  The  Canaries  and  the 
Azores,  which  had  been  discovered  some  generations  earlier, 
occupied  their  proper  places,  while  the  western  side  of  the 
Atlantic  was  bounded  by  a  fancied  delineation  of  the  eastern 
coast  of  India,  or  of  Cathay,  buttressed  by  the  island  of 
Cipango,  or  Japan,  and  an  Archipelago,  that  had  been  re 
presented  principally  after  the  accounts  of  Marco  Polo  and 
his  relatives.  By  a  fortunate  misconception,  Cipango  had 
been  placed  in  a  longitude  that  corresponded  very  nearly 
with  that  of  Washington,  or  some  two  thousand  leagues 
east  of  the  position  in  which  it  is  actually  to  be  found. 
This  error  of  Columbus,  in  relation  to  the  extent  of  the 
circumference  of  the  globe,  in  the  end,  most  probably  saved 
his  hardy  enterprise  from  becoming  a  failure. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  211 

Luis,  for  the  first  time  since  he  had  been  engaged  in  the 
expedition,  cast  his  eyes  over  this  chart,  with  some  curios 
ity,  and  he  felt  a  noble  desire  to  solve  the  great  problem 
rising  within  him,  as  he  thus  saw,  at  a  glance,  all  the  vast 
results,  as  well  as  the  interesting  natural  phenomena,  that 
were  dependent  on  the  issue. 

"  By  San  Gennaro  of  Napoli !"  he  exclaimed — The  only 
affectation  the  young  noble  had,  was  a  habit  of  invoking 
the  saints  of  the  different  countries  he  had  visited,  and  of 
using  the  little  oaths  and  exclamations  of  distant  lands,  a 
summary  mode  of  both  letting  the  world  know  how  far 
he  had  journeyed,  as  well  as  a  portion  of  the  improvement 
he  had  derived  from  his  travels — "By  San  Gennaro,  Senor 
Don  Christoval,  but  this  voyage  will  be  one  of  exceeding 
merit,  if  we  ever  find  our  way  across  this  great  belt  of  wa 
ter  ;  and  greater  still,  should  we  ever  manage  to  return !" 

"  The  last  difficulty  is  the  one,  at  this  moment,  upper 
most  in  the  minds  of  most  in  this  vessel,"  answered  Colum 
bus.  "  Dost  thou  not  perceive,  Don  Luis,  the  grave  and 
dejected  countenances  of  the  mariners,  and  nearest  thou  the 
waitings  that  are  rising  from  the  shore  ?" 

This  remark  caused  the  young  man  to  raise  his  eyes 
from  the  chart,  and  to  take  a  survey  of  the  scene  around 
him.  The  Nina,  a  light  felucca  in  fact,  was  already  under 
way,  and  brushing  past  them  under  a  latine  foresail,  her 
sides  thronged  with  boats  filled  with  people,  no  small  por 
tion  of  whom  were  females  and  children,  and  most  of  whom 
were  wringing  their  hands  and  raising  piteous  cries  of  des 
pair.  The  Pinta  was  in  the  act  of  being  cast ;  and,  al 
though  the  authority  of  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  had  the  ef 
fect  to  render  their  grief  less  clamorous,  her  sides  were  sur 
rounded  by  a  similar  crowd,  while  numberless  boats  plied 
around  the  Santa  Maria  herself;  the  authority  and  dignity 
of  the  admiral  alone  keeping  them  at  a  distance.  It  was 
evident  that  most  of  those  who  remained,  fancied  that  they 
now  saw  their  departing  relations  for  the  last  time,  while  no 
small  portion  of  those  who  were  on  the  eve  of  sailing,  be 
lieved  they  were  on  the  point  of  quitting  Spain  for  ever. 

"  Hast  looked  for  Pepe,  this  morning,  among  our  peo 
ple?"  demanded  Columbus,  the  incident  of  the  young  sailor 
recurring  to  his  thoughts,  for  the  first  time  that  morning ; 


212  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  if  he  prove  false  to  his  word,  we  may  regard  it  as  an  evil 
omen,  and  have  an  eye  on  all  our  followers,  while  there  is 
a  chance  of  escape." 

"  If  his  absence  would  be  an  omen  of  evil,  Senor  Almi- 
rante,  his  presence  ought  to  be  received  as  an  omen  of  good. 
The  noble  fellow  is  on  this  yard,  above  our  heads,  loosen 
ing  the  sail." 

Columbus  turned  his  eyes  upwards,  and  there,  indeed, 
was  the  young  mariner  in  question,  poised  on  the  extreme 
and  attenuated  end  of  the  latine  yard,  that  ships  even 
then  carried  on  their  after-masts,  swinging  in  the  wind, 
while  he  loosened  the  gasket  that  kept  the  canvass  in 
its  folds.  Occasionally  he  looked  beneath  him,  anxious  to 
discover  if  his  return  had  been  noted ;  and,  once  or  twice, 
his  hands,  usually  so  nimble,  lingered  in  their  employment, 
as  he  cast  glances  over  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  as  if  one 
also  drew  his  attention  in  that  quarter.  Columbus  made  a 
sign  of  recognition  to  the  gratified  young  mariner,  who  in 
stantly  permitted  the  canvass  to  fall ;  and  then  he  walked  to 
the  taifrail,  accompanied  by  Luis,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  any 
boat  was  near  the  ship.  There,  indeed,  close  to  the  vessel, 
lay  a  skiff,  rowed  by  Monica  alone,  and  which  had  been 
permitted  to  approach  so  near  on  account  of  the  sex  of  its 
occupant.  The  moment  the  wife  of  Pepe  observed  the  form 
of  the  admiral,  she  arose  from  her  seat,  and  clasped  her 
hands  towards  him,  desirous,  but  afraid,  to  speak.  Perceiv 
ing  that  the  woman  was  awed  by  the  bustle,  the  crowd  of 
persons,  and  the  appearance  of  the  ship,  which  she  was  al 
most  near  enough  to  touch  with  her  hand,  Columbus  ad 
dressed  her.  He  spoke  mildly,  and  his  looks,  usually  so 
grave,  and  sometimes  even  stern,  were  softened  to  an  ex 
pression  of  gentleness  that  Luis  had  never  before  witnessed. 

"  I  see  that  thy  husband  hath  been  true  to  his  promise, 
good  woman,"  he  said,  "  and  I  doubt  not  that  thou  hast  told 
him  it  is  wiser  and  better  manfully  to  serve  the  queen,  than 
to  live  under  the  disgrace  of  a  runaway." 

"  Senor,  I  have.  I  give  Dona  Isabella  my  husbard,  with 
out  a  murmur,  if  not  cheerfully,  now  I  know  that  you  go 
forth  to  serve  God.  I  see  the  wickedness  of  my  repinings, 
and  shall  pray  that  he  may  be  foremost,  on  all  occasions, 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  213 

until  the  ears  of  the  Infidel  shall  be  opened  to  the  words  of 
the  true  faith." 

"  This  is  said  like  a  Spanish  wife,  and  a  Christian  wo 
man  !  Our  lives  are  in  the  care  of  Providence,  and  doubt 
not  of  seeing  Pepe,  in  health  and  safety,  after  he  hath  visited 
Cathay,  and  done  his  share  in  its  discovery." 

"Ah!  Seiior — when?"  exclaimed  the  wife,  unable,  in 
spite  of  her  assumed  fortitude,  and  the  strong  feelings  of 
religious  duty,  to  suppress  the  impulses  of  a  woman. 

"In  God's  time,  my  good how  art  thou  named?" 

"  Monica,  Senor  Almirante,  and  my  husband  is  called 
Pepe;  and  the  boy,  the  poor  fatherless  child,  hath  been 
christened  Juan.  We  have  no  Moorish  blood,  but  are  pure 
Spaniards,  and  I  pray  your  Excellency  to  remember  it,  on 
such  occasions  as  may  call  for  more  dangerous  duty  than 
common." 

"  Thou  may'st  depend  on  my  care  of  the  fether  of  Juan," 
returned  the  Admiral,  smiling,  though  a  tear  glistened  in 
his  eye.  "  I?  too,  leave  behind  those  that  are  dear  to 
me  as  my  own  soul,  and  among  others  a  motherless  son. 
Should  aught  serious  befal  our  vessel,  Diego  would  be  an 
orphan ;  whereas  thy  Juan  would  at  least  enjoy  the  care 
and  affection  of  her  who  brought  him  into  the  world." 

"Seiior,  a  thousand  pardons!"  said  the  woman,  much 
touched  by  the  feeling  that  was  betrayed  by  the  Admiral  in 
his  voice.  "  We  are  selfish,  and  forget  that  others  have 
sorrows,  when  we  feel  our  own  too  keenly.  Go  forth,  in 
God's  name,  and  do  his  holy  will — take  my  husband  with 
you ;  I  only  wish  that  little  Juan  was  old  enough  to  be  his 
companion." 

Monica  could  utter  no  more,  but  dashing  the  tears  from 
her  eyes,  she  resumed  the  oars,  and  pulled  the  little  skiff 
slowly,  as  if  the  inanimate  machine  felt  the  reluctance  of 
the  hands  that  propelled  it,  towards  the  land.  The  short 
dialogue  just  related,  had  been  carried  on  in  voices  so  loud 
as  to  be  heard  by  all  near  the  speakers ;  and  when  Colum 
bus  turned  from  the  boat,  he  saw  that  many  of  his  crew 
had  been  hanging  suspended  in  the  rigging,  or  on  the  yards, 
eagerly  listening  to  what  had  been  said.  At  this  precise 
instant  the  anchor  of  the  Santa  Maria  was  raised  from  the 
bottom,  and  the  ship's  head  began  to  incline  from  the  direc* 


214  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

tion  of  the  wind.  At  the  next  moment,  the  flap  of  the  large 
square  foresail  that  crafts  of  her  rig  then  carried,  was  heard, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  next  five  minutes,  the  three  vessels 
were  standing  slowly  but  steadily  down  the  current  of  the 
Odiel,  in  one  of  the  arms  of  which  river  they  had  been  an 
chored,  holding  their  course  towards  a  bar  near  its  mouth. 
The  sun  had  not  yet  risen,  or  rather  it  rose  over  the 
hills  of  Spain,  a  fiery  ball,  just  as  the  sails  were  set,  gild 
ing  with  a  melancholy  glory,  a  coast  that  not  a  few  in 
the  different  vessels  apprehended  they  were  looking  upon 
for  the  last  time.  Many  of  the  boats  clung  to  the  two 
smaller  craft  until  they  reached  the  bar  of  Saltes,  an  hour 
or  two  later,  and  some  still  persevered  until  they  began  to 
toss  in  the  long  waves  of  the  breathing  ocean,  when,  the 
wind  being  fresh  at  the  west,  they  reluctantly  cast  off,  one 
by  one,  amid  sighs  and  groans.  The  liberated  ships,  in  the 
mean  while,  moved  steadily  into  the  blue  waters  of  the 
shoreless  Atlantic,  like  human  beings  silently  impelled  by 
their  destinies  towards  fates  that  they  can  neither  foresee, 
control,  nor  avoid. 

The  day  was  fine,  and  the  wind  both  brisk  and  fair. 
Thus  far  the  omens  were  propitious ;  but  the  unknown  fu 
ture  threw  a  cloud  over  the  feelings  of  a  large  portion  of 
those  who  were  thus  quitting,  in  gloomy  uncertainty,  all 
that  was  most  dear  to  them.  It  was  known  that  the  ad 
miral  intended  making  the  best  of  his  way  towards  the 
Canaries,  thence  to  enter  on  the  unknown  and  hitherto  un 
trodden  paths  of  the  desert  ocean  that  lay  beyond.  Those 
who  doubted,  therefore,  fixed  upon  those  islands  as  the 
points  where  their  real  dangers  were  to  commence,  and 
already  looked  forward  to  their  appearance  in  the  horizon, 
with  feelings  akin  to  those  with  which  the  guilty  regard  the 
day  of  trial,  the  condemned  the  morning  of  execution,  or 
the  sinner  the  bed  of  death.  Many,  however,  were  supe 
rior  to  this  weakness,  having  steeled  their  nerves  and  pre 
pared  their  minds  for  any  hazards,  though  the  feelings  of 
nearly  all  fluctuated ;  there  being  hours  when  hope,  and 
anticipations  of  success,  seemed  to  cheer  the  entire  crews  ,• 
and  then,  moments  would  occur,  in  which  the  disposition 
was  to  common  doubts,  and  a  despondency  that  was  nearly 
general. 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  215 

A  voyage  to  the  Canaries,  or  the  Azores,  in  that  age, 
was  most  probably  to  be  classed  among  the  hardiest  ex 
ploits  of  seamen.  The  distance  was  not  as  great,  cer 
tainly,  as  many  of  their  more  ordinary  excursions,  for 
vessels  frequently  went,  even  in  the  same  direction,  as  far 
as  the  Cape  de  Verdes ;  but  all  the  other  European  passages 
lay  along  the  land,  and  in  the  Mediterranean  the  seaman 
felt  that  he  was  navigating  within  known  limits,  and  was 
apt  to  consider  himself  as  embayed  within  the  boundaries 
of  human  knowledge.  On  the  contrary,  while  sailing  on 
the  broad  Atlantic,  he  was,  in  some  respects,  placed  in  a 
situation  resembling  that  of  the  aeronaut,  who,  while  float 
ing  in  the  higher  currents  of  the  atmosphere,  sees  beneath 
him  the  earth  as  his  only  alighting  place,  the  blue  void  of 
untravelled  space  stretching  in  all  other  directions  about 
him. 

The  Canary  Isles  were  known  to  the  ancients.  Juba, 
the  king  of  Mauritania,  who  was  a  contemporary  of  Cse- 
sar,  is  said  to  have  described  them  with  tolerable  accuracy, 
under  the  general  name  of  the  Fortunate  Isles.  The  work 
itself  has  been  lost,  but  the  fact  is  known  through  the  evi 
dence  of  other  writers ;  and  by  the  same  means  it  is  known 
that  they  possessed,  even  in  that  remote  age,  a  population 
that  had  made  some  respectable  advances  towards  civiliza 
tion.  But  in  the  process  of  time,  and  during  the  dark 
period  that  succeeded  the  brightness  of  the  Roman  sway, 
even  the  position  of  these  islands  was  lost  to  the  Europeans  ; 
nor  was  it  again  ascertained  until  the  first  half  of  the  four 
teenth  century,  when  they  were  discovered  by  certain  fugi 
tive  Spaniards  who  were  hard  pressed  by  the  Moors.  After 
this,  the  Portuguese,  then  the  most  hardy  navigators  of  the 
known  world,  got  possession  of  one  or  two  of  them,  and 
made  them  the  starting  points  for  their  voyages  of  dis 
covery  along  the  coast  of  Guinea.  As  the  Spaniards  re 
duced  the  power  of  the  Mussulmans,  and  regained  their 
ancient  sway  in  the  peninsula,  they  once  more  turned  their 
attention  in  this  direction,  conquering  the  natives  of  several 
of  the  other  islands,  the  group  belonging  equally  to  those 
two  Christian  nations,  at  the  time  of  our  narrative. 

Luis  de  Bobadilla,  who  had  navigated  extensively  in  the 
more  northern  seas,  and  who  had  passed  and  repassed  the 


216  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

Mediterranean,  in  various  directions,  knew  nothing  of  these 
islands  except  by  report ;  and  as  they  stood  on  the  poop, 
Columbus  pointed  out  to  him  their  position,  and  explained 
their  different  characters ;  relating  his  intentions  in  con 
nection  with  them,  dwelling  on  the  supplies  they  afforded, 
and  on  their  facilities  as  a  point  of.  departure. 

"  The  Portuguese  have  profited  much  by  their  use  of 
these  islands,"  said  Columbus,  "  as  a  place  for  victualling, 
and  wooding,  and  watering,  and  I  see  no  reason  why  Cas 
tile  may  not,  now,  imitate  their  example,  and  receive  her 
share  of  the  benefits.  Thou  seest  how  far  south  our  neigh 
bours  have  penetrated,  and  what  a  trade,  and  how  much 
riches,  are  flowing  into  Lisbon,  through  these  noble  enter 
prises,  which,  notwithstanding,  are  but  as  a  bucket  of  water 
in  the  ocean,  when  compared  with  the  wealth  of  Cathay 
and  all  the  mighty  consequences  that  are  to  follow  from 
this  western  voyage  of  ours." 

"  Dost  thou  expect  to  reach  the  territories  of  the  Great 
Khan,  Don  Christoval,"  demanded  Luis,  "  within  a  distance 
as  small  as  that  to  which  the  Portuguese  hath  gone  south 
wardly  ?" 

The  navigator  looked  warily  around,  to  ascertain  who 
might  hear  his  words,  and  finding  that  no  one  was  within 
reach  of  the  sound  of  his  voice  while  he  used  a  proper 
caution,  he  lowered  its  tones,  and  answered  in  a  manner 
which  greatly  flattered  his  young  companion,  as  it  proved 
that  the  admiral  was  disposed  to  treat  him  with  the  frank 
ness  and  confidence  of  a  friend. 

"  Thou  know'st,  Don  Luis" — the  navigator  resumed  — 
"  the  nature  of  the  spirits  with  whom  we  have  to  deal.  I 
shall  not  even  be  certain  of  their  services,  so  long  as  we 
continue  near  the  coast  of  Europe ;  for  nought  is  easier 
than  for  one  of  yonder  craft  to  abandon  me  in  the  night, 
and  to  seek  a  haven  on  some  known  coast,  seeking  his  jus 
tification  in  some  fancied  necessity." 

"  Martin  Alonzo  is  not  a  man  to  do  that  ignoble  and  un 
worthy  act !"  interrupted  Luis. 

"  He  is  not,  my  young  friend,  for  a  motive  as  base  as 
fear,"  returned  Columbus,  with  a  sort  of  thoughtful  smile, 
which  showed  how  truly  and  early  he  had  dived  into 
the  real  characters  of  those  with  whom  he  was  asso« 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  217 

ciafed.  "  Martin  Alonzo  is  a  bold  and  intelligent  navigator, 
and  we  may  look  for  good  service  at  his  hands,  in  all  that 
toucheth  resolution  and  perseverance.  But  the  eyes  of  the 
Pinzons  cannot  be  always  open,  and  the  knowledge  of  all 
the  philosophers  of  the  earth  could  make  no  resistance 
against  the  headlong  impetuosity  of  a  crew  of  alarmed 
mutineers.  I  do  not  feel  certain  of  our  own  people,  while 
there  is  a  hope  of  easy  return ;  much  less  of  men  who  are 
not  directly  under  my  own  eye  and  command.  The  ques 
tion  thou  hast  asked,  Luis,  may  not,  therefore,  be  publicly 
answered,  since  the  distance  that  we  are  about  to  sail  over 
would  frighten  our  easily  alarmed  mariners.  Thou  art  a 
cavalier;  a  knight  of  known  courage,  and  may  be  de 
pended  on ;  and  I  may  tell  thee,  without  fear  of  arousing 
any  unworthy  feelings,  that  the  voyage  on  which  we  are 
now  fairly  embarked  hath  never  had  a  precedent  on  this 
earth,  for  its  length,  or  for  the  loneliness  of  its  way." 

"  And  yet,  Senor,  thou  enterest  on  it  with  the  confidence 
of  a  man  certain  of  reaching  his  haven  ?" 

"  Luis,  thou  hast  well  judged  my  feelings.  As  to  all 
those  common  dreads  of  descents,  and  ascents,  of  the  dif 
ficulties  of  a  return,  and  of  reaching  the  margin  of  the 
world,  whence  we  may  glide  off  into  space,  neither  thou, 
nor  I,  shall  be  much  subjected." 

"  By  San  lago !  Senor  Don  Christoval,  I  have  no  very 
settled  notions  about  these  things.  I  have  never  known  of 
any  one  who  hath  slidden  off  the  earth  into  the  air,  it  is 
true,  nor  do  I  much  think  that  such  a  slide  is  likely  to  befal 
us  and  our  good  ships ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  we  have  as 
yet  only  doctrine  to  prove  that  the  earth  is  round,  and  that 
it  is  possible  to  journey  east,  by  sailing  west.  On  these 
subjects,  then,  I  hold  myself  neuter ;  while,  at  the  same 
time,  thou  may'st  steer  direct  for  the  moon,  and  Luis  de 
Bobadilla  will  be  found  at  thy  side." 

"  Thou  makest  thyself  less  expert  in  science,  mad. 
brained  young  noble,  than  is  either  true  or  necessary ;  bu 
we  will  say  no  more  of  this,  at  present.  There  will  bi 
sufficient  leisure  to  make  thee  familiar  with  all  my  intricate 
reasons  arid  familiar  motives.  And  is  not  this,  Don  Luis, 
a  most  heavenly  sight?  Here  am  I  in  the  open  ocean, 
honoured  b^r  the  two  sovereigns  with  the  dignity  of  theii 
19 


218  MERCEDES    Of    CASTILE. 

viceroy  and  admiral ;  with  a  fleet  that  is  commissioned  by 
their  Highnesses  to  carry  the  knowledge  of  their  power 
and  authority  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth ;  and, 
most  of  all,  to  raise  the  cross  of  our  blessed  Redeemer 
before  the  eyes  of  Infidels,  who  have  never  yet  even  heard 
his  name,  or,  if  they  have,  reverence  it  as  little  as  a  Chris 
tian  would  reverence  the  idols  of  the  heathens !" 

This  was  said  with  the  calm  but  deep  enthusiasm  that 
coloured  the  entire  character  of  the  great  navigator,  ren 
dering  him,  at  times,  equally  the  subject  of  distrust  and  of 
profound  respect.  On  Luis,  as  indeed  on  most  others  who 
lived  in  sufficient  familiarity  with  the  man  to  enable  them 
to  appreciate  his  motives,  and  to  judge  correctly  of  the  up 
rightness  of  his  views,  the  effect,  however,  was  always 
favourable,  and  probably  would  have  been  so,  had  Mer 
cedes  never  existed.  The  young  man  himself,  was  not 
entirely  without  a  tinge  of  enthusiasm,  and,  as  is  ever  the 
case  with  the  single-minded  and  generous,  he  best  knew 
how  to  regard  the  impulses  of  those  who  were  influenced 
by  similar  qualities.  This  answer  was  consequently  in 
accordance  with  the  feelings  of  the  admiral,  and  they  re 
mained  on  the  poop  several  hours,  discoursing  of  the  future, 
with  the  ardour  of  those  who  hoped  for  every  thing,  but  in 
a  manner  too  discursive  and  general  to  render  a  record  of 
the  dialogue  easy  or  necessary. 

It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the  vessels 
passed  the  bar  of  Saltes,  and  *he  day  had  far  advanced 
before  the  navigators  had  lost  sight  of  the  familiar  emi 
nences  that  lay  around  Palos,  and  the  other  well-known 
land-marks  of  the  coast.  The  course  was  due  south,  and, 
as  the  vessels  of  that  day  were  lightly  sparred,  and  spread 
comparatively  very  little  canvass,  when  considered  in  con 
nection  with  the  more  dashing  navigation  of  our  own  times, 
the  rate  of  sailing  was  slow,  and  far  from  promising  a 
speedy  termination  to  a  voyage  that  all  knew  must  be  long 
without  a  precedent,  and  which  so  many  feared  could  never 
have  an  end.  Two  marine  leagues,  of  three  English  miles, 
an  hour,  was  good  progress  for  a  vessel  at  that  day,  even 
with  a  fresh  and  favourable  wind ;  though  there  are  a  few 
memorable  days'  works  set  down  by  Columbus  himself, 
which  approach  to  a  hundred  and  sixty  miles  in  the  twen- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  219 

ty-four  hours,  and  which  are  evidently  noted  as  a  speed  of 
which  a  mariner  might  well  be  proud.  In  these  days  of 
locomotion  and  travelling,  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  tell 
the  intelligent  reader  this  is  but  a  little  more  than  half  the 
distance  that  is  sailed  over  by  a  fast  ship,  under  similar 
circumstances,  and  in  our  own  time. 

Thus  the  sun  set  upon  the  adventurers,  in  this  celebrated 
voyage,  when  they  had  sailed  with  a  strong  breeze,  to  use 
the  words  of  Columbus's  own  record,  some  eleven  hours, 
after  quitting  the  bar.  By  this  time,  they  had  made  good 
less  than  fifty  miles,  in  a  due  south  course  from  the  place 
of  their  departure.  The  land  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Palos  had  entirely  sunk  behind  the  watery  margin  of  the 
ocean,  in  that  direction,  and  the  coast  trending  eastward, 
it  was  only  here  and  there  that  the  misty  summits  of  a  few 
of  the  mountains  of  Seville  could  just  be  discovered  by  the 
experienced  eyes  of  the  older  mariners,  as  the  glowing  ball 
of  the  sun  sunk  into  the  watery  bed  of  the  western  horizon, 
and  disappeared  from  view.  At  this  precise  moment,  Co- 
lumbus  and  Luis  were  again  on  the  poop,  watching,  with 
melancholy  interest,  the  last  shadows  cast  by  Spanish  land, 
while  two  seamen  were  at  work  near  them,  splicing  a  rope 
that  had  been  chafed  asunder.  The  latter  were  seated  on 
the  deck,  and  as,  out  of  respect  to  the  admiral,  they  had 
taken  their  places  a  little  on  one  side,  their  presence  was 
not  at  first  noted. 

"  There  setteth  the  sun  beneath  the  waves  of  the  wide 
Atlantic,  Senor  Gutierrez,"  observed  the  admiral,  who  was 
ever  cautious  to  use  one  or  the  other  of  Luis's  feigned  ap 
pellations,  whenever  any  person  was  near.  "  There  the 
sun  quitteth  us,  Pero,  and  in  his  daily  course  I  see  a  proof 
of  the  globular  form  of  the  earth ;  and  of  the  truth  of  a 
theory  which  teacheth  us  that  Cathay  may  be  reached  by 
the  western  voyage." 

"  I  am  ever  ready  to  admit  the  wisdom  of  all  your 
plans,  expectations,  and  thoughts,  Senor  Don  Christoval," 
returned  the  young  man,  punctiliously  observant  of  respect, 
both  in  speech  and  manner  ;  "  but  I  confess  I  cannot  see 
what  the  daily  course  of  the  sun  has  to  do  with  the  position 
of  Cathay,  or  with  the  road  that  leads  to  it.  We  know 
that  tlie  great  luminary  travelleth  the  heavens  without 


220  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

ceasing,  that  it  cometh  up  out  of  the  sea  in  the  morning, 
and  goeth  down  to  its  watery  bed  at  night ;  but  this  it  doth 
on  the  coast  of  Castile,  as  well  as  on  that  of  Cathay ;  and, 
therefore,  to  me  it  doth  appear,  that  no  particular  inference, 
for  or  against  our  success,  is  to  be  drawn  from  the  circum 
stance." 

As  this  was  said,  the  two  sailors  ceased  working,  looking 
curiously  up  into  the  face  of  the  admiral,  anxious  to  hear 
his  reply.  By  this  movement  Luis  perceived  that  one  was 
Pepe,  to  whom  he  gave  a  nod  of  recognition,  while  the 
other  was  a  stranger.  The  last  had  every  appearance  of  a 
thorough-bred  seaman  of  that  period,  or  of  being,  what 
would  have  been  termed  in  English,  and  the  more  northern 
languages  of  Europe,  a  regular  "  sea-dog ;"  a  term  that 
expresses  the  idea  of  a  man  so  completely  identified  with 
the  ocean  by  habit,  as  to  have  had  his  exterior,  his  thoughts, 
his  language,  and  even  his  morality,  coloured  by  the  asso 
ciation.  This  sailor  was  approaching  fifty,  was  short, 
square,  athletic,  and  still  active,  but  there  was  a  mixture  of 
the  animal  with  the  intellectual  creature  about  his  coarse, 
heavy  features,  that  is  very  usual  in  the  countenances  of 
men  of  native  humour  and  strong  sense,  whose  habits  have 
been  coarse  and  sensual.  That  he  was  a  prime  seaman, 
Columbus  knew  at  a  glance,  not  only  from  his  general  ap 
pearance,  but  from  his  occupation,  which  was  such  as  only 
fell  to  the  lot  of  the  most  skilful  men  of  every  crew. 

"  I  reason  after  this  fashion,  Senor,"  answered  the  ad 
miral,  as  soon  as  his  eye  turned  from  the  glance  that  he, 
too,  had  thrown  upon  the  men  ;  "  the  sun  is  not  made  to 
journey  thus  around  the  earth  without  a  sufficient  motive, 
the  providence  of  God  being  ruled  by  infinite  wisdom.  It 
is  not  probable  that  a  luminary  so  generous  and  useful 
should  be  intended  to  waste  any  of  its  benefits ;  and  we  are 
certain  already  that  day  and  night  journey  westward  over 
this  earth  as  far  as  it  is  known  to  us,  whence  I  infer  that 
the  system  is  harmonious,  and  the  benefits  of  the  great  orb 
are  unceasingly  bestowed  on  man,  reaching  one  spot  on 
the  earth  as  it  quits  another.  The  sun  that  hath  just  left 
us  is  still  visible  in  the  Azores,  and  will  be  seen  again  at 
Smyrna,  and  among  the  Grecian  Islands,  an  hour,  or  more, 
before  it  again  meets  our  eyes.  Nature  hath  designed 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  221 

nought  for  uselessness ;  and  I  believe  that  Cathay  will  be 
enlightened  by  that  ball  which  hath  just  left  us,  while  we 
shall  be  in  the  deepest  hour  of  the  night,  to  return  by  its 
eastern  path,  across  the  great  continent  of  Asia,  and  to 
greet  us  again  in  the  morning.  In  a  word,  friend  Pedro, 
that  which  Sol  is  now  doing  with  such  nimble  speed  in  the 
heavens,  we  are  more  humbly  imitating  in  our  own  caravels  • 
give  us  sufficient  time,  and  we,  too,  might  traverse  the 
earth,  coming  in  from  our  journey  by  the  land  of  the  Tar 
tars  and  the  Persians." 

"From  all  which  you  infer  that  the  world  is  round, 
wherein  we  are  to  find  the  certainty  of  our  .success  ?" 

"  This  is  so  true,  Senor  de  Munos,  that  I  should  be  sorry 
to  think  any  man  who  now  saileth  under  my  command 
did  not  admit  it.  Here  are  two  seamen  who  have  been  lis 
tening  to  our  discourse,  and  we  will  question  them,  that  we 
may  know  the  opinions  of  men  accustomed  to  the  ocean. — 
Thou  art  the  husband  with  whom  I  held  discourse  on  the 
sands,  the  past  evening,  and  thy  name  is  Pepe?" 

"  Senor  Almirante,  your  excellency's  memory  doth  me 
too  much  honour,  in  not  forgetting  a  face  that  is  altogether 
unworthy  of  being  noticed  and  remembered." 

"  It  is  an  honest  face,  friend,  and  no  doubt  speaketh  for 
a  true  heart.  I  shall  count  on  thee  as  a  sure  support,  let 
things  go  as  they  may." 

"  His  excellency  hath  not  only  a  right  to  command  me, 
as  her  Highness's  admiral,  but  he  hath  now  the  good-will 
of  Monica,  and  that  is  much  the  same  as  having  gained  her 
husband." 

"  I  thank  thee,  honest  Pepe,  and  shall  count  on  thee,  with 
certainty,  in  future,"  answered  Columbus,  turning  towards 
the  other  seaman — "  And  thou,  shipmate, — thou  hast  the 
air  of  one  that  the  sight  of  troubled  water  will  not  alarm — 
thou  hast  a  name?" 

**  That  I  have,  noble  admiral,"  returned  the  fellow,  look 
ing  up  with  a  freedom  that  denoted  one  used  to  have  his 
say ;  "  though  it  hath  neither  a  Don,  nor  a  Senor,  to  take 
it  in  tow.  My  intimates  commonly  call  out  Sancho,  when 
pressed  for  time,  and  when  eivility  gets  the  better  of  haste, 
they  add  Mundo,  making  Sancho  Mundo  for  the  whole 
name  of  a  very  poor  man." 
19* 


222  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Mundo  is  a  large  name  for  so  small  a  person,"  said  the 
admiral,  smiling,  for  he  foresaw  the  expediency  of  having 
friends  among  his  crew,  and  knew  men  sufficiently  to  un 
derstand  that,  while  undue  familiarity  undermined  respect, 
a  Tittle  unbending  had  a  tendency  to  win  hearts.  "  I  won 
der  that  thou  shouldst  venture  to  wear  a  sound  so  lofty !" 

"  I  tell  my  fellows,  your  excellency,  that  Mundo  is  my 
title,  and  not  my  name ;  and  that  I  am  greater  than  kings, 
even,  who  are  content  to  take  their  titles  from  a  part  of  that, 
of  which  I  bear  all." 

"And  were  thy  father  and  thy  mother  called  Mundo, 
also?  Or,  is  this  name  taken  in  order  to  give  thee  an  oc 
casion  to  show  thy  smartness,  when  questioned  by  thy 
officers  ?" 

"  As  for  the  good  people  you  deign  to  mention,  Senor 
Don  Almirante,  I  shall  leave  them  to  answer  for  themselves, 
and  that  for  the  simple  reason  that  I  do  not  know  how  they 
were  called,  or  whether  they  had  any  names  at  all.  They 
tell  me  I  was  found,  when  a  few  hours  old,  under  a  worn- 
out  basket  at  the  ship-yard  gate  of  old " 

"Never  mind  the  precise  spot,  friend  Sancho, — thou  wert 
found  with  a  basket  for  a  cradle,  and  that  maketh  a  volume 
in  thy  history,  at  once." 

"  Nay,  Excellency,  I  would  not  leave  the  spot  a  place  of 
dispute  hereafter — but  it  shall  be  as  you  please.  They  say 
no  one  here  knoweth  exactly  where  we  are  going,  and  it 
will  be  more  suitable  that  the  like  ignorance  should  rest 
over  the  places  whence  we  came.  But  having  the  world 
before  me,  they  that  christened  me  gave  me  as  much  of  it 
as  was  to  be  got  by  a  name." 

"  Thou  hast  been  long  a  mariner,  Sancho  Mundo, — if 
Mundo  thou  wilt  be." 

"  So  long,  Senor,  that  it  sickeneth  me,  and  taketh  away 
the  appetite  to  walk  on  solid  ground.  Being  so  near  the 
gate,  it  was  no  great  matter  to  put  me  into  the  ship-yard, 
and  I  was  launched  one  day  in  a  caravel,  and  got  to  sea  in 
her,  no  one  knows  how  From  that  time  I  have  submitted 
to  fate,  and  go  out  again,  as  soon  as  possible,  after  I  come 
into  port." 

"And  by  what  lucky  chance  have  I  obtained  thy  ser 
vices,  good  Sancho,  in  this  great  expedition  ?" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  223 

"  The  authorities  of  Moguer  took  me  under  the  queen's 
order,  your  Excellency,  thinking  that  this  voyage  would  be 
more  to  my  mind  than  another,  as  it  was  likely  never  to 
have  an  end." 

"Art  thou  a  compelled  adventurer,  on  this  service?" 

"  Not  I,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  although  they  who  sent 
me  here  fancy  as  much.  It  is  natural  for  a  man  to  wish 
to  see  his  estates,  once  in  his  life,  and  I  am  told  that  we 
are  bound  on  a  voyage  to  the  other  side  of  the  world.  God 
forbid  that  I  should  hold  aloof,  on  such  an  occasion." 

"  Thou  art  a  Christian,  Sancho,  and  hast  a  desire  to  aid 
in  carrying  the  cross  among  the  heathen  ?" 

"  Senor,  your  Excellency,  Don  Almirante,  it  mattersjit- 
tle  to  Sancho  with  what  the  barque  is  laden,  so  that  she  do 
not  need  much  pumping,  and  that  the  garlic  is  good.  If  I 
am  not  a  very  devout  Christian,  it  is  the  fault  of  them  that 
found  me  near  the  ship-yard  gate,  since  the  church  and  the 
font  are  both  within  call  from  that  very  spot.  I  know  that 
Pepe,  here,  is  a  Christian,  Senor,  for  I  saw  him  in  the  arms  of 
the  priest,  and  I  doubt  not  that  there  are  old  men  at  Moguer 
who  can  testify  to  as  much  in  my  behalf.  At  all  hazards, 
noble  Admiral,  I  will  take  on  myself  to  say  that  I  am  nei 
ther  Jew,  nor  Mussulman." 

"  Sancho,  thou  hast  that  about  thee,  that  bespeakest  a 
skilful  and  bold  mariner." 

"  For  both  of  these  qualities,  Senor  Don  Colon,  let  others 
speak.  When  the  gale  cometh,  your  own  eyes  may  judge 
of  the  first ;  and  when  the  caravel  shall  reach  the  edge  of 
the  earth,  whither  some  think  it  is  bound,  there  will  be  a 
good  occasion  to  see  who  can,  and  who  cannot,  look  off 
without  trembling." 

"  It  is  enough  :  I  count  both  thee  and  Pepe  as  among 
my  truest  followers," — as  Columbus  said  this,  he  walk 
ed  away,  resuming  the  dignified  gravity  that  usually  was 
seated  in  his  countenance,  and  which  so  much  aided  his 
authority,  by  impressing  the  minds  of  others  with  respect. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  and  Luis  descended  to  their  cabin. 

"  I  marvel,  Sancho,"  said  Pepe,  as  soon  as  he  and  his 
messmate  were  left  alone  on  the  poop,  "  that  thou  wilt  ven 
ture  to  use  thy  tongue  so  freely,  even  in  the  presence  of 


224  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

one  that  beareth  about  with  him  the  queen's  authority  J 
Dost  thou  not  fear  to  offend  the  admiral  ?" 

"  So  much  for  having  a  wife  and  a  child  !  Canst  thou 
not  make  any  difference  between  them  that  have  had  an 
cestors  and  who  have  descendants,  and  one  that  hath  no 
other  tie  in  the  world  than  his  name  ?  The  Senor  Don 
Almirante  is  either  an  exceeding  great  man,  and  chosen  by 
Providence  to  open  the  way  into  the  unknown  seas  of  which 
he  speaketh,  or  he  is  but  a  hungry  Genoese  that  is  leading 
us  he  knoweth  not  whither,  that  he  may  eat  and  drink  and 
sleep,  in  honour,  while  we  are  toiling  at  his  heels,  like  pa 
tient  mules  dragging  the  load  that  the  horse  despiseth..  In 
the  one  case,  he  is  too  great  and  exalted  to  heed  idle  words  ; 
arM'in  the  other,  what  is  there  too  bad  for  a  Castilian  to 
tell  him?" 

"Ay,  thou  art  fond  of  calling  thyself  a  Castilian,  in 
spite  of  the  ship-yard  and  the  basket,  and  notwithstanding 
Moguer  is  in  Seville." 

"  Harkee,  Pepe ;  is  not  the  queen  of  Castile  our  mis 
tress  1  And  are  not  subjects — true  and  lawful  subjects, 
I  mean,  like  thee  and  me, — are  not  such  subjects  worthy 
of  being  their  queen's  countrymen  1  Never  disparage  thy 
self,  good  Pepe,  for  thou  wilt  ever  find  the  world  ready 
enough  to  do  that  favour  for  thee.  As  to  this  Genoese,  he 
shall  be  either  friend  or  enemy  to  Sancho ;  if  the  first,  I 
expect  much  consolation  from  it;  if  the  last,  let  him  hunt 
for  his  Cathay  till  doomsday,  he  shall  be  never  the  wiser." 

"  Well,  Sancho,  if  words  can  mar  a  voyage,  or  make  a 
voyage,  thou  art  a  ready  mariner;  none  know  how  to  dis 
course  better  than  thou." 

Here  the  men  both  rose,  having  completed  their  work, 
and  they  left  the  poop,  descending  among  the  rest  of  the 
crew.  Columbus  had  not  miscalculated  his  aim,  his  words 
and  condescension  having  produced  a  most  favourable  effect 
on  the  mind  of  Sancho  Mundo,  for  so  the  man  was  actually 
called ;  and  in  gaining  one  of  as  ready  a  wit  and  loose  a 
tongue  for  a  friend,  he  obtained  an  ally  who  was  not  to  be 
despised.  Of  such  materials,  and  with  the  support  of  such 
instruments  as  this,  is  success  too  often  composed,  it  being 
possible  for  the  discovery  of  a  world,  even,  to  depend  on  the 
good  word  of  one  less  qualified  to  influence  opinions  than 
Sancho  Mundo. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  225 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  While  you  here  do  snoring  lie, 
Open-ey'd  conspiracy 
His  time  doth  take : 
If  of  life  you  keep  a  care, 
Shake  off  slumber,  and  beware : 
Awake !  Awake !" 

Ariel. 

THE  wind  continuing  fair,  the  three  vessels  made  good 
progress  in  the  direction  of  the  Canaries ;  Sunday,  in  par 
ticular,  proving  a  propitious  day,  the  expedition  making 
more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  in  the  course  of 
the  twenty-four  hours.  The  wind  still  continued  favoura 
ble,  and  on  the  morning  of  Monday  the  6th  of  August,  Co 
lumbus  was  cheerfully  conversing  with  Luis,  and  one  or  two 
other  companions,  who  were  standing  near  him  on  the 
poop,  when  the  Pinta  was  seen  suddenly  to  take  in  her  for 
ward  sails,  and  to  come  up  briskly,  not  to  vsay  awkwardly, 
to  the  wind.  This  manoeuvre  denoted  some  accident,  and 
the  Santa  Maria,  fortunately  having  the  advantage  of  the 
wind,  immediately  edged  away  to  speak  her  consort. 

"  How  now,  Senor  Martin  Alonzo,"  hailed  the  Admiral, 
as  the  two  caravels  carne  near  enough  together  to  speak 
each  other.  "For  what  reason  hast  thou  so  suddenly 
paused  in  thy  course  ?" 

"  Fortune  would  have  it  so,  Senor  Don  Christoval,  seeing 
that  the  rudder  of  the  good  caravel  hath  broken  loose,  and 
we  must  fain  secure  it,  ere  we  may  again  trust  ourselves  to 
the  breeze." 

A  severe  frown  came  over  the  grave  countenance  of  the 
great  navigator,  and  after  bidding  Martin  Alonzo  do  his 
best  to  repair  the  damage,  he  paced  the  deck,  greatly  dis 
turbed,  for  several  minutes.  Observing  how  much  the  Ad 
miral  took  this  accident  to  heart,  the  rest  descended  to  the 
deck  below,  leaving  Columbus  alone  with  the  pretended 
groom  of  the  king's  chamber. 

"  I  trust,  Senor,  this  is  no  serious  injury,  or  one  in  any 


226  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

way  likely  to  retard  our  advance,"  said  Luis,  after  mani 
festing  that  respect  which  all  near  him  felt  for  the  admiral, 
lt>y  a  pause.  "  I  know  honest  Martin  Alonzo  to  be  a  ready 
seaman,  and  should  think  his  expedients  might  easily  servo 
to  get  us  as  far  as  the  Canaries,  where  greater  damages  can 
meet  with  their  remedies." 

"  Thou  say'st  true,  Luis,  and  we  will  hope  for  the  best. 
I  feel  regret  the  sea  is  so  high  that,  we  can  offer  no 
assistance  to  the  Pinta,  but  Martin  Alonzo  is,  indeed,  an 
expert  mariner,  and  on  his  ingenuity  we  mu-st  rely.  My 
concern,  however,  hath  another  and  a  deeper  source  than 
the  unloosing  of  this  rudder,  serious  as  such  an  injury  ever 
is  to  a  vessel  at  sea.  Thou  know'st  that  the  Pinta  hath 
been  furnished  to  the  service  of  the  queen,  under  the  order 
claiming  the  forfeited  duty  from  the  delinquents  of  Palos, 
and  sorely  against  the  will  of  the  caravel's  owners  hath  the 
vessel  been  taken.  Now  these  persons,  Gomez  Rascon  and 
Christoval  Quintero,  are  on  board  her,  and  I  question  not 
have  designed  this  accident.  Their  artifices  were  practised 
long,  to  our  delay,  before  quitting  the  haven,  and  it  would 
seem  are  to  be  continued  to  our  prejudice  here  on  the  open 
ocean." 

"  By  the  allegiance  I  owe  the  Dona  Isabella  !  Senor  Don 
Christoval,  but  I  would  find  a  speedy  cure  for  such  a  trea 
son,  if  the  office  of  punishment  rested  with  me.  Let  me 
jump  into  the  skiff  and  repair  to  the  Pinta,  where  I  will  tell 
these  Masters  Rascon  and  Quintero,  that  should  their  rudder 
ever  dare  to  break  loose  again,  or  should  any  other  similar 
and  untoward  accident  chance  to  arrive,  the  first  shall  be 
hanged  at  the  yard  of  his  own  caravel,  and  the  last  be  cast 
into  the  sea  to  examine  into  the  state  of  her  bottom,  the 
rudder  included." 

"  We  may  not  practise  such  high  authority  without  great 
occasion,  and  perfect  certainty  of  guilt.  I  hold  it  to  be 
wiser  to  seek  another  caravel  at  the  Canaries,  for,  by  this 
accident,  I  well  see  we  shall  not  be  rid  of  the  artifices  of 
the  two  owners,  until  we  are  rid  of  their  vessel.  It  will  be 
hazardous  to  launch  the  skiff  in  this  sea,  or  I  would  pro 
ceed  to  the  Pinta  myself;  but,  as  it  is,  let  us  have  confi 
dence  in  Martin  Alonzo  and  his  skill." 

Columbus  thus  encouraged  the  people  of  the  Pinta  to 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  227 

exert  themselves,  and  in  about  an  hour  or  two,  the 
three  vessels  were  again  making  the  best  of  their  way 
towards  the  Canaries.  Notwithstanding  the  delay,  nearly 
ninety  miles  were  made  good  in  the  course  of  the  day  and 
night.  But,  the  ibllovving  morning,  the  rudder  again  broke 
loose,  and,  as  the  damage  was  more  serious  than  in  the 
former  instance,  it  was  still  more  difficult  to  repair.  These 
repeated  accidents  gave  the  admiral  great  concern,  for  he 
took  them  to  be  so  many  indications  of  the  disaffection  of 
his  followers.  He  fully  determined,  in  consequence,  to  get 
rid  of  the  Pinta,  if  it  were  possible  to  find  another  suitable 
vessel  among  the  islands.  As  the  progress  of  the  vessels 
was  much  retarded  by  the  accident,  although  the  wind  con 
tinued  favourable,  the  expedition  only  got  some  sixty  miles, 
this  day,  nearer  to  its  place  of  destination. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  three  vessels  came  within 
hail  of  each  other ;  and  a  comparison  of  the  nautical  skill 
of  the  different  navigators,  or  pilots,  as  it  was  then  the  cus 
tom  to  style  them,  took  place,  each  offering  his  opinion  as 
to  the  position  of  the  vessels. 

It  was  not  the  least  of  the  merits  of  Columbus,  that  ho 
succeeded  in  his  great  experiment  with  the  imperfect  aid 
of  the  instruments  then  in  use.  The  mariner's  compass, 
it  is  true,  had  been  in  common  service  quite  a  century,  if 
not  longer,  though  its  variations,  a  knowledge  of  which  is 
scarcely  less  important  in  long  voyages  than  a  knowledge 
of  the  instrument  itself,  were  then  unknown  to  seamen, 
who  seldom  ventured  far  enough  from  the  land  to  note 
these  mysteries  of  nature,  and  who,  as  a  class,  still  relied 
almost  as  much  on  the  ordinary  position  of  the  heavenly 
bodies  to  ascertain  their  routes,  as  on  the  nicer  results  of 
calculation.  Columbus,  however,  was  a  striking  exception 
to  this  little-instructed  class,  having  made  himself  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  all  the  learning  of  the  period  that  could  be 
applied  in  his  profession,  or  which  might  aid  him  in  effect 
ing  the  great  purpose  for  which  alone  he  now  seemed  to 
live. 

As  might  be  expected,  the  comparison  resulted  altogether 
in  the  admiral's  favour,  the  pilots  in  general  being  soon 
convinced  that  he  alone  knew  the  true  position  of  the  ves 
sels,  a  fact  that  was  soon  unanswerably  determined  by  the 


228  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

appearance  of  the  summits  of  the  Canaries,  which  hove  up 
out  of  ths  ocean,  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  resembling 
well-defined  dark  clouds  clustering  in  the  horizon.  As  ob 
jects  like  these  are  seen  at  a  great  distance  at  sea,  more 
especially  in  a  transparent  atmosphere,  and  the  wind  became 
light  and  variable,  the  vessels,  notwithstanding,  were  unable 
to  reach  Grand  Canary,  until  Thursday,  the  8th  of  August, 
or  nearly  a  week  after  they  had  left  Palos.  There  they  all 
ran  in,  and  anchored  in  the  usual  haven.  Columbus  im 
mediately  set  about  making  an  inquiry  for  another  caravel, 
but  proving  unsuccessful,  he  sailed  for  Gomera,  where  he 
believed  it  might  be  easier  to  obtain  the  craft  he  wanted. 
While  the  admiral  was  thus  employed  with  the  Santa  Maria 
and  the  Nina,  Martin  Alonzo  remained  in  port,  being  unable 
to  keep  company  in  the  crippled  condition  of  the  Pinta. 
But  no  suitable  vessel  being  found,  Columbus  reluctantly 
returned  to  Grand  Canary,  and  after  repairing  the  Pinta, 
which  vessel  was  badly  caulked,  among  the  other  devices 
that  had  been  adopted  to  get  her  freed  from  the  service, 
he  sailed  again  for  Gomera,  from  which  island  he  was  to 
take  his  final  departure. 

During  these  several  changes,  a  brooding  discontent  be 
gan  to  increase  among  most  of  the  common  mariners, 
while  some  even  of  a  higher  class,  were  not  altogether  free 
from  the  most  melancholy  apprehensions  for  the  future. 
While  passing  from  Grand  Canary  to  Gomera,  with  all  his 
vessels,  Columbus  was  again  at  his  post,  with  Luis  and  his 
usual  companions  near  him,  when  the  admiral's  attention 
was  drawn  to  a  conversation  that  took  place  between  a 
group  of  the  men,  who  had  collected  near  the  main-mast. 
It  was  night,  and  there  being  little  wind,  the  voices  of  the 
excited  disputants  reached  farther  than  they  themselves 
were  aware. 

"  I  tell  thee,  Pcpe,"  said  the  most  vociferous  and  most 
earnest  of  the  speakers,  "  that  the  night  is  not  darker  than 
the  future  of  this  crew.  Look  to  the  west,  and  what  dost 
see  there?  Who  hath  ever  heard  of  land,  after  he  hath 
quitted  the  Azores,  and  who  is  so  ignorant  as  not  to  know 
that  Providence  hath  placed  water  around  all  the  continents, 
with  a  few  islands  as  stopping-places  for  mariners,  and 
•pread  the  broad  ocean  beyond,  with  an  intention  to  rebuke 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  229 

an  over-eager  curiosity  to  pry  into    matters  that  savour 
more  of  miracles  than  of  common  worldly  things?" 

"  This  is  well,  Pero,"  answered  Pepe,  "  but  I  know  that 
Monica  thinks  the  admiral  is  sent  of  God,  and  that  we  may 
look  forward  to  great  discoveries,  through  his  means ;  and 
most  especially  to  the  spreading  of  religion  among  the 
heathen." 

"  Ay,  thy  Monica  should  have  been  in  Dona  Isabella's 
seat,  so  learned  and  positive  is  she  in  all  matters,  whether 
touching  her  own  woman's  duties,  or  thine  own.  She  is 
thy  quean,  Pepe,  as  all  in  Moguer  will  swear ;  and  there 
are  some  who  say  she  would  gladly  govern  the  port,  as  she 
governeth  thee." 

"  Say  nought  against  the  mother  of  my  child,  Pero," 
interrupted  Pepe,  angrily.  "  I  can  bear  thy  idle  words 
against  myself,  but  he  that  speaketh  ill  of  Monica  will  have 
a  dangerous  enemy." 

"  Thou  art  bold  of  speech,  Pero,  when  away  a  hundred 
leagues  from  thine  own  better  nine-tenths,"  put  in  a  voice 
that  Columbus  and  Luis  both  knew,  on  the  instant,  to  be 
long  to  Sancho  Mundo,  "  and  art  bold  enough  to  jeer  Pepe 
touching  Monica,  when  we  all  well  know  who  comrnandeth 
in  a  certain  cabin,  where  thou  art  as  meek  as  a  hooked  dol 
phin,  whatever  thou  may'st  be  here.  But,  enough  of  thy 
folly  about  women  ;  let  us  reason  upon  our  knowledge  as 
mariners,  if  thou  wilt;  instead  of  asking  questions  of  one 
like  Pepe,  who  is  too  young  to  have  had  much  experience, 
T  offer  myself  as  thy  catechist." 

**  What  hast  tkou,  then,  to  say  about  this  unknown  lane 
that  lieth  beyond  the  great  ocean,  where  man  hath  never 
been,  or  is  at  all  likely  to  go,  with  followers  such  as 
these?" 

"  I  have  this  to  say,  silly  and  idle-tongued  Pero, — that 
the  time  was  when  even  the  Canaries  were  unknown  ;  when 
mariners  did  not  dare  to  pass  the  straits,  and  when  the 
Portuguese  knew  nothing  of  their  mines  and  Guinea,  lands 
that  I  myself  have  visited,  and  where  the  noble  Don  Chris- 
toval  hath  also  been,  as  I  know  on  the  testimony  of  mine 
own  eyes." 

"  And  what  hath  Guinea,  or  what  have  the  mines  of  the 
Portuguese  to  do  with  this  western  voyage?     All   know 
30 


230  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

that  there  is  a  country  called  Africa ;  and  what  is  there 
surprising  that  mariners  should  reach  a  land  that  is  known 
to  exist  :  but  who  knoweth  that  the  ocean  hath  other  con- 
tinents>  any  more  than  that  the  heavens  have  other  earths?" 

"This  is  well,  Pero,"  observed  an  attentive  by-stander ; 
"  and  Sancho  will  have  to  drain  his  wits  to  answer  it." 

"  It  is  well  for  those  who  wag  their  tongues,  like  women, 
without  thought  of  what  they  say,"  coolly  returned  Sancho, 
'*  but  will  have  little  weight  with  Dona  Isabella,  or  Don  Al 
mirante.  Harkee,  Pero,  thou  art  like  one  that  hath  trodden 
the  path  between  Palos  and  Moguer  so  often,  that  thou  fan 
ciest  there  is  no  road  to  Seville  or  Granada.  There  must 
be  a  beginning  to  all  things ;  and  this  voyage  is,  out  of 
doubt,  the  beginning  of  voyages  to  Cathay.  We  go  west, 
instead  of  east,  because  it  is  the  shorter  way  ;  and  because, 
moreover,  it  is  the  only  way  for  a  caravel.  Now,  answer 
me,  messmates ;  is  it  possible  for  a  craft,  let  her  size  or  rig 
be  what  it  may,  to  pass  over  the  hills  and  valleys  of  a  con 
tinent — I  mean  under  her  canvass,  and  by  fair  sailing  ?" 

Sancho  waited  for  a  reply,  and  received  a  common  and 
complete  admission  of  the  impossibility  of  the  thing. 

"  Then  cast  your  eyes  at  the  admiral's  chart,  in  the 
morning,  as  he  keepeth  it  spread  before  him  on  the  poop, 
yonder,  and  you  will  see  that  there  is  land  from  one  pole 
to  the  other,  on  each  side  of  the  Atlantic,  thereby  render 
ing  navigation  impossible,  in*  any  other  direction  than  this 
we  are  now  taking.  The  notion  of  Pero,  therefore,  runs  in 
the  teeth  of  nature." 

"  This  is  so  true,  Pero,"  exclaimed  another,  the  rest  as 
senting,  "  that  thy  mouth  ought  to  be  shut." 

But  Pero  had  a  mouth  that  was  not  very  easily  closed  , 
and  it  is  probable  that  his  answer  would  have  been  to  the 
full  as  acute  and  irrefutable  as  that  of  Sancho,  had  not 
a  common  exclamation  of  alarm  and  horror  burst  from  all 
around  him.  The  night  was  sufficiently  clear  to  permit 
the  gloomy  outlines  of  the  Peak  of  TenerifFe  to  be  distinctly 
visible,  even  at  some  distance ;  and,  just  at  that  moment, 
flashes  of  flame  shot  upwards  from  its  pointed  summit,  illu 
minating,  at  instants,  the  -huge  pile,  and  then  leaving  it 
in  shadowy  darkness,  an  object  of  mystery  and  terror. 
Many  of  the  seamen  dropped  on  their  knees  and  began  to 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  231 

tell  their  beads,  while  all,  as  it.  might  be  instinctively,  crossed 
themselves.  Next  arose  a  general  murmur  ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  the  men  who  slept  were  awoke,  and  appeared 
among  their  fellows,  awe-struck  and  astounded  spectators 
of  the  phenomenon.  It  was  soon  settled  that  the  attention 
of  the  admiral  should  be  drawn  to  this  strange  event,  and 
Pero  was  selected  for  the  spokesman. 

All  this  time,  Columbus  and  his  companions  remained  on 
the  poop,  and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  this  unlooked-for 
change  in  the  appearance  of  the  Peak  had  not  escaped  their 
attention.  Too  enlightened  to  be  alarmed  by  it,  they  were 
watching  the  workings  of  the  mountain,  when  Pero,  ac 
companied  by  nearly  every  sailor  in  the  vessel,  appeared 
on  the  quarter-deck.  Silence  having  been  obtained,  Pero 
opened  the  subject  of  his  mission  with  a  zeal  that  was  not 
a  little  stimulated  by  his  fears. 

"  Senor  Almirante,"  he  commenced,  "  we  have  come  to 
pray  your  Excellency  to  look  at  the  summit  of  the  Island 
of  Teneriffe,  where  we  all  think  we  see  a  solemn  warning 
against  persevering  in  sailing  into  the  unknown  Atlantic. 
It  is  truly  time  for  men  to  remember  their  weakness,  and 
how  much  they  owe  to  the  goodness  of  God,  when  even  the 
mountains  vomit  flames  and  smoke  !" 

"  Have  any  here  ever  navigated  the  Mediterranean,  or 
visited  the  island  of  which  Don  Ferdinand,  the  honoured 
consort  of  our  lady  the  queen,  is  master  ?"  demanded  Co 
lumbus,  calmly. 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,"  hastily  answered  Sancho,  "  I 
have  done  so,  unworthy  as  I  may  seem  to  have  enjoyed 
that  advantage.  And  I  have  seen  Cyprus,  and  Alexandria, 
and  even  Stamboul,  the  residence  of  the  Great  Turk." 

"  Well,  then,  thou  may'st  have  also  seen  ^Etna,  another 
mountain  which  continueth  to  throw  up  those  flames,  in  the 
midst  of  a  nature  and  a  scene  on  which  Providence  would 
seem  to  have  smiled  with  unusual  benignity,  instead  of  an 
grily  frowning,  as  ye  seem  to  imagine." 

Columbus  then  proceeded  to  give  his  people  an  explana 
tion  of  the  causes  of  volcanoes,  referring  to  the  gentlemen 
around  him  to  corroborate  the  fidelity  of  his  statements. 
He  told  them  that  he  looked  upon  this  little  eruption  as 
merely  a  natural  occurrence;  or,  if  he  saw  any  omen  at  all 


232  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

in  the  event,  it  was  propitious  rather  than  otherwise ;  Provi 
dence  seeming  disposed  to  light  them  on  their  way.  Luis 
and  the  rest  next  descended  among  the  crew,  where  they 
used  their  reasoning  powers  in  quieting  an  alarm  that,  at 
first,  had  threatened  to  be  serious.  For  the  moment  they 
were  successful,  or  perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  say  that 
they  succeeded  completely,  so  far  as  the  phenomenon  of  the 
volcano  was  concerned,  and  this  less  by  the  arguments  of 
the  more  intelligent  of  the  officers,  than  by  means  of  the 
testimony  of  Sancho,  and  one  or  two  others  of  the  common 
men,  who  had  seen  similar  scenes  elsewhere.  With  diffi 
culties  like  these,  had  the  great  navigator  to  contend,  even 
after  he  had  passed  years  in  solicitations  to  obtain  the  limited 
means  which  had  been  finally  granted,  in  order  to  effect 
one  of  the  sublimest  achievements  that  had  yet  crowned  the 
enterprise  of  man ! 

The  vessels  reached  Gomera  on  the  2d  of  September, 
where  they  remained  several  days,  in  order  to  complete 
their  repairs,  and  to  finish  taking  in  their  supplies,  ere  they 
finally  left  the  civilized  abodes  of  man,  and  what  might  then 
be  deemed  the  limits  of  the  known  earth.  The  arrival  of 
such  an  expedition,  in  an  age  when  the  means  of  commu 
nication  were  so  few  that  events  were  generally  their  own 
announcers,  had  produced  a  strong  sensation  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  different  islands  visited  by  the  adventur 
ers.  Columbus  was  held  in  high  honour  among  them,  not 
only  on  account  of  the  commission  he  had  received  from 
the  two  sovereigns,  but  on  account  of  the  magnitude  and 
the  romantic  character  of  his  undertaking. 

There  existed  a  common  belief  among  all  the  adjacent 
islands,  including  Madeira,  the  Azores  and  the  Canaries, 
that  land  lay  to  the  westward ;  their  inhabitants  living 
under  a  singular  delusion  in  this  particular,  which  the  ad 
miral  had  an  occasion  to  detect,  during  his  second  visit  to 
Gomera.  Among  the  most  distinguished  persons  who  were 
then  on  the  island,  was  Doila  Inez  Peraza,  the  mother  of 
the  Count  of  Gomera.  She  was  attended  by  a  crowd  of 
persons,  not  only  belonging  to  her  own,  but  who  had  come 
from  other  islands  to  do  her  honour.  She  entertained  the 
admiral  in  a  manner  suited  to  his  high  rank,  admitting  to 
her  society  such  of  the  adventurers  as  Columbus  saw  fit  to 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  2^3 

point  out  as  worthy  of  the  honour.  Of  course  the  pretended 
Pedro  de  Munos,  or  Pero  Gutierrez,  as  he  was  now  indif 
ferently  termed,  was  of  the  number ;  as,  indeed,  were  most 
of  those  who  might  be  deemed  any  way  suited  to  so  high 
and  polished  a  society. 

"  I  rejoice,  Don  Christopher,"  said  Dona  Inez  Peraza,  on 
this  occasion,  "  that  their  Highnesses  have  at  length  yielded 
to  your  desire  to  solve  this  great  problem,  not  only  on  ac 
count  of  our  Holy  Church,  which,  as  you  say,  hath  so  deep 
an  interest  in  your  success,  and  the  honour  of  the  two  sove 
reigns,  and  the  welfare  of  Spain,  and  all  the  other  great 
considerations  that  we  have  so  freely  touched  upon  in  our 
discourse  already,  but  on  account  of  the  worthy  inhabitants 
of  the  Fortunate  Islands,  who  have  not  only  many  traditions 
touching  land  in  the  west,  but  most  of  whom  believe  that 
they  have  more  than  once  seen  it,  in  that  quarter,  in  the 
course  of  their  lives." 

"  I  have  heard  of  this,  noble  lady,  and  would  be  grateful 
to  have  the  account  from  the  mouths  of  eye-witnesses,  now 
we  are  here,  together,  conversing  freely  concerning  that 
which  is  of  so  much  interest  to  us  all." 

"  Then,  Sefior,  I  will  entreat  this  worthy  cavalier,  who 
is  every  way  capable  of  doing  the  subject  justice,  to  be 
spokesman  for  us,  and  to  let  you  know  what  we  all  believe 
in  these  islands,  and  what  so  many  of  us  fancy  we  have 
seen.  Acquaint  the  admiral,  Senor  Dama,  I  pray  thee,  of 
the  singular  yearly  view  that  we  get  of  unknown  land 
lying  afar  off,  in  the  Atlantic." 

"  Most  readily,  Dona  Inez,  and  all  the  more  so  at  your 
gracious  bidding,"  returned  the  person  addressed,  who  dis 
posed  himself  to  tell  the  story,  with  a  readiness  that  the 
lovers  of  the  wonderful  are  apt  to  betray  when  a  fitting 
opportunity  offers  to  indulge  a  favourite  propensity.  "  The 
illustrious  admiral  hath  probably  heard  of  the  island  of 
St.  Brandan,  that  lieth  some  eighty  or  a  hundred  leagues  to 
the  westward  of  Ferro,  and  which  hath  been  so  often  seen, 
but  which  no  navigator  hath  yet  been  able  to  reach,  in  our 
days  at  least  ?" 

"  I  have  often  heard  of  this  fabled  spot,  Senor,"  the  ad- 
miral  gravely  replied;  "  but,  pardon  me  if  I  say 'that  the 
20* 


234  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

land  never  yet  existed  which  a  mariner  hath  seen  and  yet 
a  mariner  hath  not  reached." 

"  Nay,  noble  admiral,"  interrupted  a  dozen  eager  voices, 
among  which  that  of  the  lady,  herself,  was  very  distinctly 
audible,  "  that  it  hath  been  seen,  most  here  know  ;  and  that 
it  hath  never  been  reached,  is  a  fact  to  which  more  than 
one  disappointed  pilot  can  testify." 

"  That  which  we  have  seen,  we  know ;  and  that  which 
we  know,  we  can  describe,"  returned  Columbus,  steadily. 
"  Let  any  man  tell  me  in  what  meridian,  or  on  what  pa 
rallel  this  St.  Brandan,  or  St.  Barandon,  lieth,  and  a  week 
shall  make  me  also  certain  of  its  existence." 

"  I  know  little  of  meridians  or  parallels,  Don  Christo 
pher,"  said  the  Senor  Dama,  "  but  I  have  some  ideas  of 
visible  things.  This  island  have  I  often  seen,  more  or  less 
plainly  at  different  times  ;  and  that,  too,  under  the  serenest 
skies,  and  at  occasions  when  it  was  not  possible  greatly  to 
mistake  either  its  form  or  its  dimensions.  Once  I  remember 
to  have  seen  the  sun  set  behind  one  of  its  heights." 

"  This  is  plain  evidence,  and  such  as  a  navigator  should 
respect ;  and  yet  do  I  take  what  you  imagine  yourself  to 
have  seen,  Senor,  to  be  some  illusion  of  the  atmosphere." 

"Impossible!  —  impossible!"  was  said,  or  echoed,  by  a 
dozen  voices.  "  Hundreds  yearly  witness  the  appearance 
of  St.  Brandan,  and  its  equally  sudden  and  mysterious  dis 
appearance." 

"  Therein,  noble  lady  and  generous  cavalier,  lieth  the 
error  into  which  ye  have  fallen.  Ye  see  the  Peak  the 
year  round  ;  and  he  who  will  cruise  a  hundred  miles,  north 
or  south,  east  or  west,  of  it,  will  continue  to  see  it.  the  year 
round,  except  on  such  days  as  the  state  of  the  atmosphere 
may  forbid.  The  land  which  God  hath  created  stationary, 
will  be  certain  to  remain  stationary,  until  disturbed  by  some 
great  convulsion  that  cometh  equally  of  his  providence  and 
his  laws." 

"All  this  may  be  true,  Senor;  doubtless  it  is  true;  but 
every  rule  hath  its  exceptions.  You  will  not  deny  that  God 
rulet'h  the  world  mysteriously,  and  that  his  ends  are  not 
always  visible  to  human  eyes.  Else,  why  hath  the  Moor 
so  long  been  permitted  to  rule  in  Spain  ?  why  hath  the  In 
fidel,  at  this  moment,  possession  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre? 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  235 

why  have  the  sovereigns  been  so  long  deaf  to  your  own 
well-grounded  wishes  and  entreaties  to  be  permitted  to  carry 
their  banners,  in  company  with  the  cross,  to  the  Cathay, 
whither  you  are  now  bound?  Who  knoweth  that  these 
appearances  of  St.  Brandan  may  not  be  given  as  signs  to 
encourage  one  like  yourself,  bent  on  still  greater  ends  than 
even  reaching  its  shores  ?" 

Columbus  was  an  enthusiast;  but  his  was  an  enthusiasm 
that  was  seated  in  his  reverence  for  the  acknowledged 
mysteries  of  religion,  which  sought  no  other  support  from 
things  incomprehensible,  than  might  reasonably  be  thought 
to  belong  to  the  exercise  of  infallible  wisdom,  and  which 
manifested  a  proper  reverence  for  a  Divine  Power.  Like 
most  of  that  period,  he  believed  in  modern  miracles ;  and  his 
dependence  on  the  direct  worldly  efficacy  of  votive  offer 
ings,  penances  and  prayers,  was  such  as  marked  the  age 
in  general,  and  his  calling  in  particular.  Still,  his  mascu 
line  understanding  rejected  the  belief  of  vulgar  prodigies  ; 
and  while  he  implicitly  thought  himself  set  apart  and  se 
lected  for  the  great  work  before  him,  he  was  not  disposed 
to  credit  that  an  airy  exhibition  of  an  island  was  placed  in 
the  west  to  tempt  mariners  to  follow  its  shadowy  outline  to 
the  more  distant  regions  of  Cathay. 

"  That  I  feel  the  assurance  of  the  Providence  of  God 
having  selected  me  as  the  humble  instrument  of  connecting 
Europe  with  Asia,  by  means  of  a  direct  voyage  by  sea,  is 
certain,"  returned  the  navigator,  gravely,  though  his  eye 
lighted  with  its  latent  enthusiasm ;  "  but  I  am  far  from 
indulging  in  the  weakness  of  thinking,  that  direct,  miracu 
lous,  agencies  are  to  be  used  to  guide  me  on  my  way.  It 
is  more  in  conformity  to  the  practice  of  divine  wisdom,  and 
certainly  more  grateful  to  my  own  self-love,  that  the  means 
employed  are  such  as  a  discreet  pilot,  and  the  most  expe 
rienced  philosophers,  might  feel  proud  in  finding  themselves 
selected  to  display.  My  thoughts  have  first  been  turned  to 
the  contemplation  of  this  subject ;  then  hath  my  reason 
been  enlightened  by  a  due  course  of  study  and  reflection, 
and  science  hath  aided  in  producing  the  conviction  neces 
sary  to  impel  myself  to  proceed,  and  to  enable  me  to  induce 
others,  to  join  in  this  enterprise." 

"  And  do  all  your  followers,  noble  admiral,  act  under  the 


236  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 

same  guidance?"  demanded  the  Dona  Inez,  glancing  at 
Luis,  whose  manly  graces,  and  martial  aspect,  had  found 
favour  in  the  eyes  of  most  of  the  ladies  of  the  island.  "  Is 
the  Senor  Gutierrez  equally  enlightened  in  this  manner  I 
and  hath  he,  too,  devoted  his  nights  to  study,  in  order  that 
the  cross  may  be  carried  to  the  heathen,  and  Castile  and 
Cathay  may  be  more  closely  united?" 

"  The  Senor  Gutierrez  is  a  willing  adventurer,  Senora 
but  he  must  be  the  expounder  of  his  ow3i  motives." 

"  Then  will  we  call  on  the  cavalier  himself,  for  an  an 
swer.  These  ladies  feel  a  desire  to  know  what  may  have 
impelled  one  who  would  be  certain  to  succeed  at  the  court 
of  Dona  Isabella,  and  in  the  Moorish  wars,  to  join  in  such 
an  expedition." 

"  The  Moorish  wars  are  ended,  Senora,"  replied  Luis, 
smiling ;  "  and  Dofia  Isabella,  and  all  the  ladies  of  her 
court,  most  favour  the  youths  who  show  a  manly  disposi 
tion  to  serve  the  interests,  and  to  advance  the  honour  of 
Castile.  I  know  very  little  of  philosophy,  and  have  still 
smaller  pretensions  to  the  learning  of  churchmen ;  but  I 
think  I  see  Cathay  before  me,  shining  like  a  brilliant  star  in 
the  heavens,  and  am  willing  to  adventure  body  and  soul  in 
its  search." 

Many  pretty  exclamations  of  admiration  broke  from  the 
circle  of  fair  listeners  ;  it  being  most  easy  for  spirit  to  gain 
applause,  when  it  is  recommended  by  high  personal  advan 
tages,  and  comes  from  the  young  and  favoured.  That  Co 
lumbus,  a  weather-worn  veteran  of  the  ocean,  should  see 
fit  to  risk  a  life  that  was  already  drawing  near  its  close, 
in  a  rash  attempt  to  pry  into  the  mysteries  of  the  Atlantic, 
seemed  neither  so  commendable,  nor  so  daring,  but  many  dis 
cover  high  qualities  in  the  character  of  one  who  was  just 
entering  on  his  career,  and  that  under  auspices  apparently 
so  flattering,  and  who  threw  all  his  hopes  on  the  uncertain 
chances  of  success  in  a  scheme  so  unusual.  Luis  was  hu 
man,  and  he  was  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  admiration 
his  enterprise  had  evidently  awakened  among  so  many  sen 
sitive  young  creatures,  when  Dona  Inez  most  inopportunely 
interposed  to  interrupt  his  happiness,  and  to  wound  his  self- 
esteem. 

"  This  is  having  more  honourable  views  than  my  letters 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  237 

from  Seville  attribute  to  one  youth,  who  belongeth  to  the 
proudest  of  our  Castilian  houses,  and  whose  titles  alone 
should  invite  him  to  add  new  lustre  to  a  name  that  hath  so 
long  been  the  Spanish  boast,"  resumed  the  Senora  Peraza. 
"  The  reports  speak  of  his  desire  to  rove,  but  in  a  man 
ner  unworthy  of  his  rank ;  and  that,  too,  in  a  way  to  serve 
neither  the  sovereigns,  his  country,  nor  himself." 

"  And  who  may  this  misguided  youth  be,  Senora  ?' 
eagerly  inquired  Luis,  too  much  elated  by  the  admiration 
he  had  just  excited  to  anticipate  the  answer.  "  A  cavalier 
thus  spoken  of,  needeth  to  be  warned  of  his  reputation,  that 
he  may  be  stimulated  to  attempt  better  things." 

"  His  name  is  no  secret,  since  the  court  speaketh  openly 
of  his  singular  and  ill-judged  career ;  and  it  is  said  that 
even  his  love  hath  been  thwarted  in  consequence.  I  mean 
a  cavalier  of  no  less  lineage  and  name  than  Don  Luis  de 
Bobadilla,  the  count  of  Llera." 

It  is  said  that  listeners  seldom  hear  good  of  themselves, 
and  Luis  was  now  fated  to  verify  the  truth  of  the  axiom. 
He  felt  the  blood  rushing  to  his  face,  and  it  required  a 
strong  effort  at  self-command  to  prevent  him  from  breaking 
out  in  exclamations,  that  would  probably  have  contained 
invocations  of  half  the  patron  saints  he  had  ever  heard  of, 
had  he  not  happily  succeeded  in  controlling  the  sudden  im 
pulse.  Gulping  the  words  he  had  been  on  the  point  of 
uttering,  he  looked  round,  with  an  air  of  defiance,  as  if 
seeking  the  countenance  of  some  man  who  might  dare  even 
to  smile  at  what  had  been  said.  Luckily,  at  that  moment, 
Columbus  had  drawn  all  of  the  males  present  around  him 
self,  in  warm  discussion  of  the  probable  existence  of  the 
island  of  St.  Brandan ;  and  Luis  nowhere  met  a  smile, 
with  which  he  could  conveniently  quarrel,  that  had  a  set 
ting  of  beard  to  render  it  hostile.  Fortunately,  the  gentle 
impulses  that  are  apt  to  influence  a  youthful  female,  in 
duced  one  of  Dona  Inez's  fair  companions  to  speak,  and 
that  in  a  way  greatly  to  relieve  the  feelings  of  our  hero. 

"  True,  Senora,"  rejoined  the  pretty  young  advocate,  the 
first  tones  of  whose  voice  had  an  effect  to  calm  the  tem 
pest  that  was  rising  in  the  bosom  of  the  young  man  ; 
u  true,  Senora,  it  is  said  that  Don  Luis  is  a  wanderer,  and 
one  of  unsettled  tastes  and  habits,  but  it  is  also  said  he 


238  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

hath  a  most  excellent  heart,  is  generous  as  the  dews  of 
heaven  themselves,  and  carrieth  the  very  best  lance  of  Cas 
tile,  as  he  is  also  like  to  carry  off  the  fairest  maiden." 

"  It  is  vain,  Senor  de  Munos,  for  churchmen  to  preach, 
and  parents  to  frown,"  said  Dona  Inez,  smiling,  "  while 
the  beautiful  and  young  will  prize  courage,  and  deeds  in 
arms,  and  an  open  hand,  before  the  more  homely  virtues 
commended  by  our  holy  religion,  and  so  zealously  incul 
cated  by  its  servants.  The  unhorsing  of.  a  knight  or  two 
in  the  tourneys,  and  the  rallying  a  broken  squadron  under 
a  charge  of  the  Infidel,  counteth  far  more  than  years  of 
sobriety,  and  weeks  of  penance  and  prayer." 

"  How  know  we  that  the  cavalier  you  mention,  Senora, 
may  not  have  his  weeks  of  penance  and  his  hours  of  prayer?" 
answered  Luis,  who  had  now  found  his  voice.  "  Should 
he  be  so  fortunate  as  to  enjoy  a  conscientious  religious  ad 
viser,  he  can  scarce  escape  both,  prayer  being  so  often 
ordered  in  the  way  of  penance.  He  seemeth,  indeed,  to  be  a 
miserable  dog,  and  I  wonder  not  that  his  mistress  holdeth 
him  cheap.  Is  the  name  of  the  lady,  also,  given  in  your 
letter?" 

"  It  is.  She  is  the  Dona  Maria  de  las  Mercedes  de  Val- 
verde,  nearly  allied  to  the  Guzmans  and  the  other  great 
houses,  and  one  of  the  fairest  maidens  of  Spain." 

"  That  is  she  !"  exclaimed  Luis,  "  and  one  of  the  most 
virtuous,  as  well  as  fair,  and  wise  as  virtuous !" 

"  How  now,  Senor,  is  it  possible  that  you  can  have  suffi 
cient  knowledge  of  one  so  situated,  as  to  speak  thus  posi 
tively  of  her  qualities,  as  well  as  of  her  appearance  ?" 

"  Her  beauty  I  have  seen,  and  of  her  excellencies  one 
may  speak  by  report.  But  doth  your  correspondent,  Se- 
ilora,  say  aught  of  what  hath  become  of  the  graceless 
lover?" 

"  It  is  rumoured  that  he  hath  again  quitted  Spain,  and, 
as  is  supposed,  under  the  grave  displeasure  of  the  sove 
reigns ,  since  it  hath  been  remarked  that  the  queen  now 
never  nameth  him.  None  know  the  road  he  hath  taken, 
but  there  is  little  doubt  that  he  is  again  roaming  the  seas, 
as  usual,  in  quest  of  low  adventures  among  the  ports  of  the 
east." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  239 

The  conversation  now  changed,  and  soon  after  the  admi 
ral  and  his  attendants  repaired  to  their  different  vessels. 

"  Of  a  verity,  Senor  Don  Christoval,"  said  Luis,  as  he 
walked  alone  with  the  great  navigator  towards  the  shore, 
"  one  little  knoweth  when  he  is  acquiring  fame,  and  when 
not.  Though  but  an  indifferent  mariner,  and  no  pilot,  I 
find  my  exploits  on  the  ocean  are  well  bruited  abroad  !  If 
your  Excellency  but  gain  half  the  reputation  I  already 
enj°y>  by  this  present  expedition,  you  will  have  reason  to 
believe  that  your  name  will  not  be  forgotten  by  posterity." 

"  It  is  a  tribute  the  great  pay  for  their  elevation,  Luis," 
returned  the  admiral,  "  that  all  their  acts  are  commented 
on,  and  that  they  can  do  little  that  may  be  concealed  from 
observation,  or  escape  remarks." 

"  It  would  be  as  well,  Senor  Almirante,  to  throw  into  the 
scales,  at  once,  calumnies,  and  lies,  and  uncharitableness, 
for  all  these  are  to  be  added  to  the  list.  Is  it  not  wonder 
ful,  that  a  young  man  cannot  visit  a  few  foreign  lands,  in 
order  to  increase  his  knowledge  and  improve  his  parts,  but 
all  the  gossips  of  Castile  should  fill  their  letters  to  the  gos 
sips  of  the  Canaries,  with  passages  touching  his  move 
ments  and  demerits !  By  the  Martyrs  of  the  East !  if  I 
were  Queen  of  Castile,  there  should  be  a  law  against  writ 
ing  of  others'  movements,  and  I  do  not  know,  but  a  law 
against  women's  writing  letters  at  all !" 

"  In  which  case,  Senor  de  Munos,  thou  wouldst  never 
possess  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  a  missive  from  the 
fairest  hand  in  Castile." 

"  I  mean  a  woman's  writing  to  a  woman,  Don  Christo 
pher.  As  to  letters  from  noble  maidens  intended  to  cheer 
the  hearts  and  animate  the  deeds  of  cavaliers  who  adore 
them,  they  are  useful,  out  of  doubt,  and  the  saints  be  deaf 
to  the  miscreant  who  would  forbid,  or  intercept  them  !  No, 
Senor,  I  trust  that  travelling  hath  at  least  made  me  liberal, 
by  raising  me  above  the  narrow  prejudices  of  provinces 
and  cities,  and  I  am  far  from  wishing  to  put  an  end  to  let 
ters  from  mistresses  to  their  knights,  or  from  parents  to 
their  children,  or  even  from  wives  to  their  husbands ;  but, 
as  for  the  letters  of  a  gossip  to  a  gossip,  by  your  leave, 
Senor  Almirante,  I  detest  them  just  as  much  as  the  Father 
of  Sin  detests  this  expedition  of  ours  1" 


240  MEfiCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  An  expedition,  certainly,  that  he  hath  no  great  reason 
to  love,"  answered  Columbus,  smiling,  "  since  it  will  be 
followed  by  the  light  of  revelation  and  the  triumph  of  the 
cross.  But  what  is  thy  will,  friend,  that  thou  seemest  in 
waiting  for  me,  to  disburthen  thyself  of  something?  Thy 
name  is  Sancho  Mundo,  if  I  remember  thy  countenance  ?" 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,  yaur  memory  hath  not  mis 
taken,"  returned  the  person  addressed — "  I  am  Sancho 
Mundo,  as  your  Excellency  saith,  sometimes  called  Sancho 
of  the  Ship-Yard  Gate.  I  desire  to  say  a  few  words,  con 
cerning  the  fate  of  our  voyage,  whenever  it  shall  suit  you, 
noble  Senor,  to  hear  me  where  there  are  no  ears  present 
that  you  distrust." 

"  Thou  may'st  speak  freely,  now  ;  this  cavalier  being  my 
confidant  and  secretary." 

"  It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  tell  a  great  pilot,  like 
your  Excellency,  who  is  King  of  Portugal,  or  what  the 
mariners  of  Lisbon  have  been  about  these  many  years, 
since  you  know  all  that  better  than  myself.  Therefore  I 
will  just  add,  that  they  are  discovering  all  the  unknown 
lands  they  can,  for  themselves,  and  preventing  others,  as 
much  as  in  them  lies,  from  doing  the  same  thing." 

"Don John  of  Portugal  is  an  enlightened  prince,  fellow, 
and  thou  would'st  do  well  to  respect  his  character  and  rank. 
His  Highness  is  a  liberal  sovereign,  and  hath  sent  many 
noble  expeditions  forth  from  his  harbour." 

"  That  he  hath,  Senor,  and  this  last  is  not  the  least  in  its 
designs  and  intentions,"  answered  Sancho,  turning  a  look 
of  irony  towards  the  admiral,  that  showed  the  fellow  had 
more  in  reserve  than  he  cared  to  divulge  without  some 
wheedling.  "No  one  doubts  Don  John's  willingness  to 
send  forth  expeditions." 

"  Thou  hast  heard  some  intelligence,  Sancho,  that  it  is 
proper  I  should  know !  Speak  freely,  and  rely  on  my  re- 
paying  any  service  of  this  sort,  to  the  full  extent  of  its  de* 
servings." 

"  If  your  Excellency  will  have  patience  to  hear  me,  I  will 
give  the  whole  story,  with  all  minuteness  and  particularity, 
and  that  in  a  way  to  leave  no  part  untold,  and  all  parts  to 
be  as  easily  understood  as  heart  can  wish,  or  a  priest  in  the 
confessional  could  desire." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  241 

«  Speak ;  no  one  will  interrupt  thee.  As  thou  art  frank, 
so  will  be  thy  reward." 

«  Well,  then,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  you  must  know  that 
about  eleven  years  since,  I  made  a  voyage  from  Palos  to 
Sicily,  in  a  caravel  belonging  to  the  Pinzons,  here ;  not  to 
Martin  Alonzo,  who  commandeth  the  Pinta,  under  your 
Excellency's  orders,  but  to  a  kinsman  of  his  late  father's, 
who  caused  better  craft  to  be  constructed  than  we  are  apt 
to  get  in  these  days  of  hurry,  and  rotten  cordage,  and  care 
less  caulking,  to  say  nothing  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
canvass  is — " 

"Nay,  good  Sancho,"  interrupted  the  impatient  Luis, 
who  was  yet  smarting  under  the  remarks  of  Dona  Inez's 
correspondent — "  thou  forgettest  night  is  near,  and  that  the 
boat  is  waiting  for  the  admiral." 

"  How  should  I  forget  that,  Senor,  when  I  can  see  the 
sun  just  dipping  into  the  water,  and  I  belong  to  the  boat 
myself,  having  left  it  in  order  to  tell  the  noble  admiral  what 
I  have  to  say  1" 

"  Permit  the  man  to  relate  his  story  in  his  own  manner, 
Senor  Pedro,  I  pray  thee,"  put  in  Columbus.  "  Nought  is 
gained  by  putting  a  seaman  out  in  his  reckoning." 

"  No,  your  Excellency,  or  in  kicking  with  a  mule.  And 
so,  as  I  was  saying,  I  went  that  voyage  to  Sicily,  and  had 
for  a  messmate  one  Jose  Gordo,  a  Portuguese  by  birth,  but 
a  man  who  liked  the  wines  of  Spain  better  than  the  puck 
ering  liquors  of  his  own  country,  and  so  sailed  much  in 
Spanish  craft.  I  never  well  knew,  notwithstanding,  whe 
ther  Jose  was,  in  heart,  most  of  a  Portuguese,  or  a  Spaniard, 
though  he  was  certainly  but  an  indifferent  Christian." 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  his  character  hath  improved," 
said  Columbus,  calmly.  "  As  I  foresee  that  something  is 
to  follow  on  the  testimony  of  this  Jose,  you  will  let  me  say, 
that  an  indifferent  Christian  is  but  an  indifferent  witness. 
Tell  me,  at  once,  therefore,  what  he  hath  communicated, 
that  I  may  judge  for  myself  of  the  value  of  his  words." 

"  Now,  lie  that  doubteth  your  Excellency  will  not  dis 
cover  Cathay  is  a  heretic,  seeing  that  you  have  discover 
ed  my  secret  without  having  heard  it !  Jose  has  just  ar 
rived,  in  the  felucca  that  is  riding  near  the  Santa  Maria, 
and  hearing  that  we  were  an  expedition  that  had  one  San- 
21 


242  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

cho  Mundo  engaged  in  it,  he  came  speedily  on  board  of  us 
to  see  his  old  shipmate." 

"All  that  is  so  plain,  that  I  wonder  thou  thinkest  it 
worthy  of  relating,  Sancho ;  but,  now  we  have  him  safe  on 
board  the  good  ship,  we  can  come  at  once  to  the  subject  of 
his  communication." 

"  That  may  we,  Senor ;  and  so,  without  any  unnecessary 
delay,  I  will  state,  that  the  subject  was  touching  Don  John 
of  Portugal,  Don  Ferdinand  of  Aragon,  Dona  Isabella  of 
Castile,  your  Excellency,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  the  Senor 
de  Mufios  here,  and  myself." 

"  This  is  a  strange  company !"  exclaimed  Luis,  laughing, 
while  he  slipped  a  piece  of  eight  into  the  hand  of  the  sailor ; 
"  perhaps  that  may  aid  thee  in  shortening  the  story  of  the 
singular  conjunction." 

"  Another,  Senor,  would  bring  the  tale  to  an  end  at  once. 
To  own  the  truth,  Jose  is  behind  that  wall,  and  as  he  told 
me  he  thought  his  news  worth  a  dobla,  he  will  be  greatly 
displeased  at  finding  I  have  received  my  half  of  it,  while 
his  half  still  remaineth  unpaid." 

"  This,  then,  will  set  his  mind  at  rest,"  said  Columbus, 
placing  an  entire  dobla  in  the  hand  of  the  cunning  fellow, 
for  the  admiral  perceived  by  his  manner  that  Sancho  had 
really  something  of  importance  to  communicate.  "  Thou 
canst  summon  Jose  to  thy  aid,  and  deliver  thyself,  at  once, 
of  thy  burthen." 

Sancho  did  as  directed,  and  in  a  minute  Jose  had  appeal 
ed,  had  received  the  dobla,  weighed  it  deliberately  on  his 
finger,  pocketed  it,  and  commenced  his  tale.  Unlike  the 
artful  Sancho,  he  told  his  story  at  once,  beginning  at  the 
right  end,  and  ceasing  to  speak  as  soon  as  he  had  no  more 
to  communicate.  The  substance  of  the  tale  is  soon  related. 
Jose  had  come  from  Ferro,  and  had  seen  three  armed 
caravels,  wearing  the  flag  of  Portugal,  cruising  among  the 
islands,  under  circumstances  that  left  little  doubt  their  ob 
ject  was  to  intercept  the  Castilian  expedition.  As  the  man 
referred  to  a  passenger  or  two,  who  had  landed  within  the 
hour,  to  corroborate  his  statement,  Columbus  and  Luis  im 
mediately  sought  the  lodgings  of  these  persons,  in  order  to 
hear  their  report  of  the  matter.  The  result  proved  that 
the  sailor  had  stated  nothing  but  what  was  true. 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  248 

"  Of  all  our  difficulties  and  embarrassments,  Luis,"  re 
sumed  the  admiral,  as  the  two  finally  proceeded  to  the 
shore,  "  this  is  much  the  most  serious  I  We  may  be  de 
tained  altogether  by  these  treacherous  Portuguese,  or  we 
may  be  followed  in  our  voyage,  and  have  our  fair  laurels 
seized  upon  by  others,  and  all  the  benefits  so  justly  due  for 
our  toil  and  risk  usurped,  or  at  least  disputed,  by  men  who 
had  not  the  enterprise  and  knowledge  to  accept  the  boon, 
when  fairly  offered  to  them." 

"Don  John  of  Portugal  must  have  sent  far  better  knights 
than  the  Moors  of  Granada  to  do  the  feat,"  answered  Lais, 
who  had  a  Spaniard's  distaste  for  his  peninsular  neighbours ; 
"  he  is  a  bold  and  learned  prince,  they  say,  but  the  com 
mission  and  ensigns  of  the  sovereign  of  Castile  are  not  to 
be  disregarded,  and  that,  too,  in  the  midst  of  her  own 
islands,  here." 

"  We  have  no  force  fit  to  contend  with  that  which  hath 
most  probably  been  sent  against  us.  The  number  and  size 
of  our  vessels  are  known,  and  the  Portuguese,  questionless, 
have  resorted  to  the  means  necessary  to  effect  their  pur 
poses,  whatever  those  purposes  may  be.  Alas  !  Luis,  my 
lot  hath  been  hard,  though  I  humbly  trust  that  the  end 
will  repay  me  for  all !  Years  did  I  sue  the  Portuguese  to 
enter  fairly  into  this  voyage,  and  to  endeavour  to  do  that, 
in  all  honour,  which  our  gracious  mistress,  Dona  Isabella, 
hath  now  so  creditably  commenced ;  he  listened  to  my 
reasons  and  entreaties  with  cold  ears — nay,  repelled  them, 
with  ridicule  and  disdain ;  and,  yet,  here  am  I  scarce 
fairly  embarked  in  the  execution  of  schemes  that  they  have 
so  often  derided,  than  they  endeavour  to  defeat  me  by 
violence  and  treachery." 

"  Noble  Don  Christoval,  we  will  die  to  a  Castilian,  ere 
this  shall  come  to  pass  !" 

"  Our  only  hope  is  in  speedy  departure.  Thanks  to  the 
industry  and  zeal  of  Martin  Alonzo,  the  Pinta  is  ready,  and 
we  may  quit  Gomera  with  the  morning's  sun.  I  doubt  if 
they  will  have  the  hardihood  to  follow  us  into  the  trackless 
and  unknown  Atlantic,  without  any  other  guides  than  their 
own  feeble  knowledge  ;  and  we  will  depart  with  the  return 
of  the  sun.  All  now  dependeth  on  quitting  the  Canaries 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

As  this  was  said,  they  reached  the  boat,  and  were  quickly 
pulled  on  board  the  Santa  Maria.  By  this  time  the  peaks 
of  the  islands  were  towering  like  gloomy  shadows  in  the 
atmosphere,  and,  soon  after,  the  caravels  resembled  dark, 
shapeless  specks,  on  the  unquiet  element  that  washed  their 
Nils. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  They  little  thought  how  pure  a  light, 
With  years,  should  gather  round  that  day ; 
How  love  should  keep  their  memories  bright — 
How  wide  a  realm  their  sons  should  sway." 

BRYANT. 

THE  night  that  succeeded,  was  one  of  very  varied  feel 
ings  among  the  adventurers.  As  soon  as  Sancho  secured 
the  reward,  he  had  no  further  scruples  about  communica 
ting  all  he  knew,  to  any  who  were  disposed  to  listen ;  and 
long  ere  Columbus  returned  on  board  the  vessel,  the  intelli 
gence  had  spread  from  mouth  to  mouth,  until  all  in  the  little 
squadron  were  apprised  of  the  intentions  of  the  Portuguese. 
Many  hoped  that  it  was  true,  and  that  their  pursuers  might 
be  successful ;  any  fate  being  preferable,  in  their  eyes,  to 
that  which  the  voyage  promised ;  but,  such  is  the  effect  of 
strife,  much  the  larger  portion  of  the  crew  were  impatient 
to  lift  the  anchors  and  to  make  sail,  if  it  were  only  to  get 
the  mastery  in  the  race.  Columbus,  himself,  experienced 
the  deepest  concern,  for  it  really  seemed  as  if  a  hard  for 
tune  was  about  to  snatch  the  cup  from  his  lips,  just  as  it 
had  been  raised  there,  after  all  his  cruel  sufferings  and  de 
lays.  He  consequently  passed  a  night  of  deep  anxiety,  and 
was  the  first  to  rise  in  the  morning. 

Every  one  was  on  the  alert  with  the  dawn :  and  as  the 
preparations  had  been  completed  the  previous  night,  by  the 
time  the  sun  had  risen,  the  three  vessels  were  under  way, 
the  Pinta  leading,  as  usual.  The  wind  was  light,  and  the 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  245 

squadron  could  barely  gather  steerage  way ;  but  as  every 
moment  was  deemed  precious,  the  vessels'  heads  were  kept  te 
the  westward.  When  a  short  time  out,  a  caravel  came  flap 
ping  past  them,  after  having  been  several  hours  in  sight,  and 
the  admiral  spoke  her.  She  proved  to  be  from  Ferro,  the  most 
southern  and  western  island  of  the  group,  and  had  come 
nearly  on  the  route  the  expedition  intended  to  steer,  until 
they  quitted  the  known  seas. 

"  Dost  thou  bring  any  tidings  from  Ferro  ?"  inquired 
Columbus,  as  the  strange  ship  drifted  slowly  past  the  Santa 
Maria ;  the  progress  of  each  vessel  being  little  more  than 
a  mile  in  the  hour.  "  Is  there  aught  of  interest  in  that 
quarter  ?" 

"  Did  I  know  whether,  or  not,  I  am  speaking  to  Don 
Christopher  Columbus,  the  Genoese  that  their  Highnesses 
have  honoured  with  so  important  a  commission,  I  should 
feel  more  warranty  to  answer  what  I  have  both  heard  and 
seen,  Senor,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  am  Don  Christopher  himself,  their  Highnesses'  admi 
ral  and  viceroy,  for  all  seas  and  lands  that  we  may  dis 
cover,  and,  as  thou  hast  said,  a  Genoese  in  birth,  though  a 
Castilian  by  duty,  and  in  love  to  the  queen." 

"  Then,  noble  Admiral,  I  may  tell  you  that  the  Portu 
guese  are  active,  three  of  their  caravels  being  off  Ferro, 
at  this  moment,  with  the  hope  of  intercepting  your  expedi 
tion." 

"  How  is  this  known,  friend,  and  what  reasons  have  I 
for  supposing  that  the  Portuguese  will  dare  to  send  forth 
caravels,  with  orders  to  molest  those  who  sail  as  the  offi 
cers  of  Isabella  the  Catholic  ?  They  must  know  that  the 
Holy  Father  hath  lately  conferred  this  title  on  the  two  sove 
reigns,  in  acknowledgment  of  their  great  services  in  expel 
ling  the  Moor  from  Christendom." 

"  Senor,  there  hath  been  a  rumour  of  that  among  the 
islands,  but  little  will  the  Portuguese  care  for  aught  of  that 
nature,  when  he  deemeth  his  gold  in  danger.  As  I  quitted 
Ferro,  I  spoke  the  caravels,  and  have  good  reason  to  think 
that  rumour  doth  them  no  injustice." 

"  Did  they  seem  warlike,  and  made  they  any  pretensions 
to  a  right  to  interrupt  our  voyage  ?" 

"  To  us  they  said  nought  of  this  sort,  except  to  inquire, 


240  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

tauntingly,  if  the  illustrious  Don  Christoval  Colon,  the  great 
viceroy  of  the  east,  sailed  on  board  us.  As  for  prepara 
tions,  Senor,  they  had  many  lombardas,  and  a  multitude  of 
men  in  breast-plates  and  casques.  I  doubt  if  soldiers  are 
as  numerous  at  the  Azores,  as  when  they  sailed." 

"  Keep  they  close  in  with  the  island,  or  stretch  they  off 
to  sea-ward  ?" 

"  Mostly  the  latter,  Senor,  standing  far  towards  the  west 
in  the  morning,  and  beating  up  towards  the  land,  as  the 
day  closeth.  Take  the  word  of  an  old  pilot,  Don  Christo 
pher,  the  mongrels  are  there  for  no  good." 

This  was  barely  audible,  for,  by  this  time,  the  caravels 
had  drifted  past  each  other,  and  were  soon  altogether  be 
yond  the  reach  of  the  voice. 

"  Do  you  believe  that  the  Castilian  name  standeth  so  low, 
Don  Christopher,"  demanded  Luis,  "that  these  dogs  of 
Portuguese  dare  do  this  wrong  to  the  flag  of  the  queen  !" 

"  I  dread  nought  from  force,  beyond  detention  and  frauds, 
certainly ;  but  these,  to  me,  at  this  moment,  would  be  little 
less  painful  than  death.  Most  do  I  apprehend  that  these 
caravels,  under  the  pretence  of  protecting  the  rights  of  Don 
John,  are  directed  to  follow  us  to  Cathay,  in  which  case 
we  should  have  a  disputed  discovery,  and  divided  honours. 
We  must  avoid  the  Portuguese,  if  possible ;  to  effect  which 
purpose  I  intend  to  pass  to  the  westward,  without  nearing 
the  island  of  Ferro,  any  closer  than  may  be  rendered  ab 
solutely  indispensable." 

Notwithstanding  a  burning  impatience  now  beset  the  ad 
miral,  and  most  with  him,  the  elements  seemed  opposed  to 
his  passage  from  among  the  Canaries,  into  the  open  ocean. 
The  wind  gradually  failed,  until  it  became  so  calm  that  the 
sails  were  hauled  up,  and  the  three  vessels  lay,  now  laving 
their  sides  with  the  brine,  and  now  rising  to  the  summit  of 
the  ground-swell,  resembling  huge  animals  that  were  lazily 
reposing,  under  the  heats  of  summer,  in  drowsy  indo 
lence. 

Many  was  the  secret  pater  or  at?e,  that  was  mumbled  by 
the  mariners,  and  not  a  few  vows  of  future  prayers  were 
made,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  breeze.  Occasionally  it 
seemed  as  if  Providence  listened  to  these  petitions,  for  the 
air  would  fan  the  cheek,  and  the  sails  would  fall,  in  the 


MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  247 

vain  expectation  of  getting  ahead ;  but  disappointment  aa 
often  followed,  until  all  on  board  felt  that  they  were  fated 
ta  linger  under  the  visitations  of  a  calm.  Just  at  night 
fall,  however,  a  light  air  arose,  and,  for  a  few  hours,  the 
wash  of  the  parted  waters  was  audible  under  the  bows  of 
the  vessels,  though  their  way  was  barely  sufficient  to  keep 
them  under  the  command  of  their  helms.  About  midnight, 
however,  even  this  scarcely  perceptible  motion  was  lost, 
and  the  craft  were  again  lazily  wallowing  in  the  ground- 
swells  that  the  gales  had  sent  in  from  the  vast  expanse  of 
the  Western  Ocean. 

When  the  light  reappeared,  the  admiral  found  himself 
between  Gomera  and  Teneriffe,  the  lofty  peak  of  the  latter 
casting  its  pointed  shadow,  like  that  thrown  by  a  planet, 
far  upon  the  water,  until  its  sharp  apex  was  renewed,  in 
faint  mimicry,  along  the  glassy  surface  of  the  ocean.  Co 
lumbus  was  now  fearful  that  the  Portuguese  might  employ 
their  boats,  or  impel  some  light  felucca  by  her  sweeps,  in 
order  to  find  out  his  position ;  and  he  wisely  directed  the 
sails  to  be  furled,  in  order  to  conceal  his  vessels,  as  far  as 
possible,  from  any  prying  eyes.  The  season  had  advanced 
to  the  7th  of  September,  and  such  was  the  situation  of  this 
renowned  expedition,  exactly  five  weeks  after  it  had  left 
Spain ;  for  this  inauspicious  calm  occurred  on  a  Friday,  or 
on  that  day  of  the  week  on  which  it  had  originally  sailed. 

AH  practice  shows  that  there  is  no  refuge  from  a  calm 
at  sea,  except  in  patience.  Columbus  was  much  too  expe 
rienced  a  navigator,  not  to  feel  this  truth,  and,  after  using 
the  precaution  mentioned,  he,  and  the  pilots  under  him, 
turned  their  attention  to  the  arrangements  required  to  ren 
der  the  future  voyage  safe  and  certain.  The  few  mathe 
matical  instruments  known  to  the  age,  were  got  up,  cor 
rected,  and  exhibited,  with  the  double  intention  of  ascer 
taining  their  state,  and  of  making  a  display  before  the 
common  men,  that  would  heighten  their  respect  for  their 
leaders,  by  adding  to  their  confidence  in  their  skill.  The 
admiral,  himself,  had  already  obtained  a  high  reputation  as 
a  navigator,  among  his  followers,  in  consequence  of  his 
reckonings  having  proved  so  much  more  accurate  than  those 
of  the  pilots,  in  approaching  the  Canaries ;  and  as  he  now 
exhibited  the  instruments  then  used  as  a  quadrant,  and  ex- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 


amined  his  compasses,  every  movement  he  made  was 
watched  by  the  seamen,  with  either  secret  admiration,  or 
jealous  vigilance  ;  some  openly  expressing  their  confidence 
in  his  ability  to  proceed  wherever  he  wished  to  go,  and 
others  covertly  betraying  just  that  degree  of  critical  know 
ledge  which  ordinarily  accompanies  prejudice,  ignorance, 
and  malice. 

Luis  had  never  been  able  to  comprehend  the  mysteries 
of  navigation,  his  noble  head  appearing  to  repudiate  learn 
ing,  as  a  species  of  accomplishment  but  little  in  accordance 
with  its  wants  or  its  tastes.  Still,  he  was  intelligent;  ana 
within  the  range  of  knowledge  that  it  was  usual  for  laymen 
of  his  rank  to  attain,  few  of  his  age  did  themselves  more 
credit  in  the  circles  of  fhe  court.  Fortunately,  he  had  the 
most  perfect  reliance  on  the  means  of  the  admiral  ;  any 
being  almost  totally  without  personal  apprehensions,  Co 
lumbus  had  not  a  more  submissive  or  blind  follower,  than 
the  young  grandee,  under  his  command. 

Man,  with  all  his  boasted  philosophy,  intelligence,  and 
reason,  exists  the  dupe  of  his  own  imagination  and  blind 
ness,  as  much  as  of  the  artifices  and  designs  of  others. 
Even  while  he  fancies  himself  the  most  vigilant  and  cau 
tious,  he  is  as  often  misled  by  appearances  as  governed  by 
facts  and  judgment  ;  and  perhaps  half  of  those  who  were 
spectators  of  this  calculated  care  in  Columbus,  believed 
that  they  felt,  in  their  renewed  confidence,  the  assurances 
of  science  and  logical  deductions,  when  in  truth  their  senses 
were  impressed,  without,  in  the  slightest  degree,  enlighten 
ing  their  understandings. 

Thus  passed  the  day  of  the  7th  September,  the  night  ar 
riving  and  still  finding  the  little  squadron,  or  fleet,  as  it  was 
termed  in  the  lofty  language  of  the  day,  floating  helplessly 
between  TenerifFe  and  Gomera.  Nor  did  the  ensuing  morn 
ing  bring  a  change,  for  a  burning  sun  beat,  unrelieved  by  a 
breath  of  air,  on  the  surface  of  a  sea  that  was  glittering  like 
molten  silver.  When  the  admiral  was  certain,  however. 
by  having  sent  men  aloft  to  examine  the  horizon,  that  the 
Portuguese  were  not  in  sight,  he  felt  infinitely  relieved,  little 
doubting  that  his  pursuers  still  lay,  as  inactive  as  himself, 
to  the  westward  of  Ferro. 

"  By  the  seamen's  hopes  !  Senor  Don  Christopher,"  said 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  249 

Luis,  as  he  reached  the  poop,  where  Columbus  had  kept  an 
untiring  watch  for  hours,  he  himself  having  just  risen  from 
a  siesta,  "  the  fiends  seem  to  be  leagued  against  us  !  Here 
are  we  in  the  third  day  of  our  calm,  with  the  Peak  of  Tene- 
riffe  as  stationary  as  if  it  were  a  mile-stone,  set  to  tell  the 
porpoises  and  dolphins  the  rate  at  which  they  swim.  If 
one  believed  in  omens,  he  might  fancy  that  the  saints  were 
unwilling  to  see  us  depart,  even  though  it  be  on  their  own 
errand." 

"  We  may  not  believe  in  omens,  when  they  are  no  more 
than  the  fruits  of  natural  laws,"  gravely  returned  the  ad 
miral.  "  There  will  shortly  be  an  end  of  this  calm,  for  a 
haze  is  gathering  in  the  atmosphere  that  promises  air  from 
the  east,  and  the  motion  of  the  ship  will  tell  thee,  that  the 
winds  have  been  busy  far  to  the  westward.  Master  Pilot," 
addressing  the  officer  of  that  title,  who  had  charge  of  the 
deck  at  the  moment,  "  thou  wilt  do  well  to  unfurl  thy  can 
vass,  and  prepare  for  a  favouring  breeze,  as  we  shall  soon 
be  overtaken  by  wind  from  the  north-east." 

This  prediction  was  verified  about  an  hour  later,  when 
all  three  of  the  vessels  began,  again,  to  part  the  waters  with 
their  stems.  But  the  breeze,  if  any  thing,  proved  more 
tantalizing  to  the  impatient  mariners,  than  the  calm  itself 
had  been ;  for  a  strong  head  sea  had  got  up,  and  the  air 
proving  light,  the  different  craft  struggled  with  difficulty 
towards  the  west. 

All  this  time,  a  most  anxious  look-out  was  kept  for  the 
Portuguese  caravels,  the  appearance  of  which,  however, 
was  less  dreaded  than  it  had  been,  as  they  were  now  sup 
posed  to  be  a  considerable  distance  to  leeward.  Columbus, 
and  his  skilful  assistants,  Martin  Alonzo  and  Vicente  Yanez, 
or  the  brothers  Pinzon,  who  commanded  the  Pinta  and  the 
Niiia,  practised  all  the  means  that  their  experience  could 
suggest  to  get  ahead.  Their  progress,  however,  was  not 
only  slow  but  painful,  as  every  fresh  impulse  given  by  the 
breeze,  served  to  plunge  the  bows  of  the  vessels  into  the 
sea  with  a  violence  that  threatened  injuries  to  the  spars 
and  rigging.  So  trifling,  indeed,  was  their  rate  of  sailing, 
that  it  required  all  the  judgment  of  Columbus  to  note  the 
nearly  imperceptible  manner  in  which  the  tall,  cone-like 
summit  of  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe  lowered,  as  it  might  be, 


250  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

inch  by  inch.  The  superstitious  feelings  of  the  common 
men  being  more  active  than  usual  even,  some  among  them 
began  to  whisper  that  the  elements  were  admonishing  them 
against  proceeding,  and  that  tardy  as  it  might  seem,  the 
admiral  would  do  well  to  attend  to  omens  and  signs  that 
nature  seldom  gave  without  sufficient  reason.  These  opin 
ions,  however,  were  cautiously  uttered,  the  grave  earnest 
manner  of  Columbus  having  created  so  much  respect,  as  to 
suppress  them  in  his  presence ;  and  the  mariners  of  the 
other  vessels  still  followed  the  movements  of  their  admiral 
with  that  species  of  blind  dependence  which  marks  the  sub 
mission  of  the  inferior  to  the  superior,  under  such  circum 
stances. 

When  Columbus  retired  to  his  cabin  for  the  night,  Luis 
observed  that  his  countenance  was  unusually  grave,  as  he 
ended  his  calculations  of  the  day's  work. 

"  I  trust  all  goes  to  your  wishes,  Don  Christopher,"  tho 
young  man  gaily  observed.  "  We  are  now  fairly  on  our 
journey,  and,  to  my  eyes,  Cathay  is  already  in  sight." 

"Thou  hast  that  within  thee,  Don  Luis,"  returned  the  ad 
miral,  "  which  rendereth  what  thou  wishest  to  see  distinct,  and 
maketh  all  colours  gay.  With  me  it  is  a  duty  to  see  things 
as  they  are,  and,  although  Cathay  lieth  plainly  before  the 
vision  of  my  mind — thou,  Lord,  who  hast  implanted,  for 
thine  own  great  ends,  the  desire  to  reach  that  distant  land, 
only  knowest  how  plainly  ! — although  Cathay  is  thus  plain 
to  my  moral  view,  I  am  bound  to  heed  the  physical  obstacles 
that  may  exist  to  our  reaching  it." 

"  And  are  these  obstacles  getting  to  be  more  serious  than 
we  could  hope,  Senor  ?" 

"  My  trust  is  still  in  God— look  here,  young  lord,"  lay 
ing  his  finger  on  the  chart ;  "  at  this  point  were  we  in  the 
morning,  and  to  this  point  have  we  advanced  by  means  of 
all  the  toil  of  the  day,  down  to  this  portion  of  the  night. 
Thou  seest  that  a  line  of  paper  marketh  the  whole  of  our 
progress  ;  and,  here  again,  thou  seest  that  we  have  to  cross 
this  vast  desert  of  ocean,  ere  we  may  even  hope  to  draw 
near  the  end  of  our  journey.  By  my  calculation,  with  all 
our  exertions,  and  at  this  critical  moment — critical  not  only 
as  regardeth  the  Portuguese,  but  critical  as  regardeth  our 
own  people — we  have  made  but  nine  leagues,  which  are  a 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  251 

small  portion  of  the  thousand  that  lie  before  us.  At  this 
rate  we  may  dread  a  failure  of  our  provisions  and  water." 

"  I  have  all  confidence  in  your  resources,  Don  Christo 
pher,  and  in  your  knowledge  and  experience." 

"  And  I  have  all  confidence  in  the  protection  of  God ; 
trusting  that  he  will  not  desert  his  servant  in  the  moment 
that  he  most  needeth  his  support." 

Here  Columbus  prepared  himself  to  catch  a  few  hours* 
sleep,  though  it  was  in  his  clothes,  the  interest  he  felt  in  the 
position  of  his  vessels  forbidding  him  to  undress.  This 
celebrated  man  lived  in  an  age  when  a  spurious  philosophy, 
and  a  pretending  but  insufficient  exercise  of  reason,  placed 
few,  even  in  appearance,  above  the  frank  admission  of  their 
constant  reliance  on  a  divine  power.  We  say  in  appear 
ance,  as  no  man,  whatever  may  be  the  extent  of  his  de 
lusions  on  this  subject,  really  believes  that  he  is  altogether 
sufficient  for  his  own  protection.  This  absolute  self-reliance 
is  forbidden  by  a  law  of  nature,  each  carrying  in  his  own 
breast  a  monitor  to  teach  him  his  real  insignificance, 
demonstrating  daily,  hourly,  at  each  minute  even,  that  he 
is  but  a  diminutive  agent  used  by  a  superior  power  in  carry 
ing  out  its  own  great  and  mysterious  ends,  for  the  sublime 
and  beneficent  purposes  for  which  the  world  and  all  it  con 
tains  has  been  created.  In  compliance  with  the  usage  of 
the  times,  Columbus  knelt,  and  prayed  fervently,  ere  he 
slept ;  nor  did  Luis  de  Bobadilla  hesitate  about  imitating  an 
example  that  few,  in  that  day,  thought  beneath  their  intel 
ligence  or  their  manhood.  If  religion  had  the  taint  of 
superstition  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and  men  confided  too 
much  in  the  efficacy  of  momentary  and  transient  impulses, 
it  is  certain  that  it  also  possessed  an  exterior  of  graceful 
meekness  and  submission  to  God,  in  losing  which,  it  may 
be  well  questioned,  if  the  world  has  been  the  gainer. 

The  first  appearance  of  light  brought  the  admiral  and 
Luis  to  the  deck.  They  both  knelt  again  on  the  poop,  and 
repeated  their  paters ;  and  then,  yielding  to  the  feelings 
natural  to  their  situation,  they  arose,  eager  to  watch  for 
what  might  be  revealed  by  the  lifting  of  the  curtain  of  day. 
The  approach  of  dawn,  and  the  rising  of  the  sun  at  sea, 
have  been  so  often  described,  that  the  repetition  here  might 
be  superfluous ;  but  we  shall  state  that  Luis  watched  the 


252  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

play  of  colours  that  adorned  the  eastern  sky,  with  a  lover's 
refinement  of  feeling,  fancying  that  he  traced  a  resemblance 
to  the  passage  of  emotions  across  the  tell-tale  countenance 
of  Mercedes,  in  the  soft  and  transient  hues  that  are  known 
to  precede  a  fine  morning  in  September,  more  especially  in 
a  low  latitude.  As  for  the  admiral,  his  more  practical  gaze 
was  turned  in  the  direction  in  which  the  island  of  Ferro 
lay,  awaiting  the  increase  of  the  light  in  order  to  ascertain 
what  changes  had  been  wrought  during  the  hours  he  had 
slept.  Several  minutes  passed  in  profound  attention,  when 
the  navigator  beckoned  Luis  to  his  side. 

"  Seest  thou  that  dark,  gloomy  pile,  which  is  heaving  up 
out  of  the  darkness,  here  at  the  south  and  west  of  us  ?"  he 
said, — "  it  gaineth  form  and  distinctness  at  each  instant, 
though  distant  some  eight  or  ten  leagues;  that  is  Ferro,  and 
the  Portuguese  are  there,  without  question,  anxiously  ex 
pecting  our  appearance.  In  this  calm,  neither  can  ap 
proach  the  other,  and  thus  far  we  are  safe.  It  is  now  ne 
cessary  to  ascertain  if  the  pursuing  caravels  are  between  us 
and  the  land,  or  not;  after  which,  should  it  prove  otherwise, 
we  shall  be  reasonably  safe,  if  we  approach  no  nearer  to 
the  island,  and  we  can  maintain,  as  yesterday,  the  advan 
tage  of  the  wind.  Seest  thou  any  sail,  Luis,  in  that  quar 
ter  of  the  ocean  ?" 

"  None,  Senor ;  and  the  light  is  already  of  sufficient 
strength  to  expose  the  white  canvass  of  a  vessel,  were  any 
there." 

Columbus  made  an  ejaculation  of  thankfulness,  and  im 
mediately  ordered  the  look-outs  aloft  to  examine  the  entire 
horizon.  The  report  was  favourable ;  the  dreaded  Portu 
guese  caravels  being  nowhere  visible.  As  the  sun  arose, 
however,  a  breeze  sprung  up  at  the  southward  and  west 
ward,  bringing  Ferro,  and  consequently  any  vessels  that 
might  be  cruising  in  that  quarter,  directly  to  windward  of 
the  fleet.  Sail  was  made  without  the  loss  of  a  moment ; 
and  the  admiral  stood  to  the  northward  and  westward,  trust 
ing  that  his  pursuers  were  looking  out  for  him  on  the  south 
side  of  the  island,  which  was  the  ground  where  those  who 
did  not  thoroughly  understand  his  aim,  would  be  most 
likely  to  expect  him.  By  this  time  the  westerly  swell  had, 
in  a  great  measure,  gone  down  ;  and  though  the  progress 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  253 

of  the  vessels  was  far  from  rapid,  it  was  steady,  and  seemed 
likely  to  last.  The  hours  went  slowly  by,  and  as  the  day 
advanced,  objects  became  less  and  less  distinct  on  the  sides 
of  Ferro.  Its  entire  surface  next  took  the  hazy  appearance 
of  a  dim  and  ill-defined  cloud ;  and  then  it  began  slowly  to 
sink  into  the  water.  Its  summit  was  still  visible,  as  the  ad 
miral,  with  the  more  privileged  of  his  companions,  assem 
bled  on  the  poop,  to  take  a  survey  of  the  ocean  and  of  the 
weather.  The  most  indifferent  observer  might  now  have 
noted  the  marked  difference  in  the  state  of  feeling  which 
existed  among  the  adventurers  on  board  the  Santa  Maria. 
On  the  poop,  all  was  cheerfulness  and  hope,  the  present 
escape  having  induced  even  the  distrustful,  momentarily,  to 
forget  the  uncertain  future ;  the  pilots,  as  usual,  were  occu 
pied  and  sustained  by  a  species  of  marine  stoicism,  while  a 
melancholy  had  settled  on  the  crew  that  was  as  apparent 
as  if  they  were  crowding  around  the  dead.  Nearly  every 
man  in  the  ship  was  in  some  one  of  the  groups  that  had 
assembled  on  deck  ;  and  every  eye  seemed  riveted,  as  it 
might  be  by  enchantment,  on  the  fading  and  falling  heights 
of  Ferro.  While  things  were  in  this  state,  Columbus  ap 
proached  Luis,  and  aroused  him  from  a  sort  of  trance,  by 
laying  a  finger  lightly  on  his  shoulder. 

"  It  can  not  be  that  the  Senor  de  Mufios  is  affected  by 
the  feelings  of  the  common  men,"  observed  the  admiral, 
with  a  slight  mixture  of  surprise  and  reproach  ;  "  this,  too, 
at  a  moment  that  all  of  an  intelligence  sufficient  to  foresee 
the  glorious  consequences,  are  rejoicing  that  a  heaven-sent 
breeze  is  carrying  us  to  a  safe  distance  from  the  pursuing 
and  envious  caravels  !  Why  dost  thou  thus  regard  the  peo 
ple  beneath  thee,  with  a  steady  eye  and  unwavering  look  ? 
Is  it  that  thou  repentest  embarking,  or  dost  thou  merely 
muse  on  the  charms  of  thy  mistress  ?" 

"  By  San  lago !  Don  Christopher,  this  time  your  saga 
city  is  at  fault.  I  neither  repent,  nor  muse  as  you  would 
imply ;  but  I  gaze  at  yonder  poor  fellows  with  pity  for  their 
apprehensions." 

"  Ignorance  is  a  hard  master,  Senor  Pedro,  and  one  that 

is  now  exercising  his  power  over  the  imaginations  of  the 

seamen,  with  the  ruthlessness  of  a  tyrant.     They  dread 

the  worst  merely  because  they  have  not  the  knowledge  to 

22 


204  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

foresee  the  best.  Fear  is  a  stronger  passion  than  hope 
and  is  ever  the  near  ally  of  ignorance.  In  vulgar  eyes 
that  which  hath  not  yet  been, — nay,  which  hath  not,  in 
some  measure,  become  familiar  by  use, — is  deemed  impos 
sible  ;  men  reasoning  in  a  circle  that  is  abridged  by  their 
information.  Those  fellows  are  gazing  at  the  island,  as  it 
disappears,  like  men  taking  a  last  look  at  the  things  of  life. 
Indeed,  this  concern  exceedeth  even  what  I  could  have  an 
ticipated." 

"  It  lieth  deep,  Senor,  and  yet  it  riseth  to  the  eyes ;  for 
I  have  seen  tears  on  cheeks  that  I  could  never  have  sup 
posed  wetted  in  any  manner  but  by  the  spray  of  the  ocean !" 

"  There  are  our  two  acquaintances,  Sancho  and  Pepe, 
neither  of  whom  seemeth  particularly  distressed,  though 
the  last  hath  a  cast  of  melancholy  in  his  face.  As  for  the 
first,  the  knave  showeth  the  indifference  of  a  true  mariner ; 
one  who  is  never  so  happy  as  when  farthest  from  the  dan 
gers  of  rocks  and  shoals :  to  such  a  man,  the  disappear 
ance  of  one  island,  and  the  appearance  of  another,  are 
alike  matters  of  indifference.  He  seeth  but  the  visible  hori 
zon  around  him,  and  considereth  the  rest  of  the  world, 
temporarily,  as  a  blank.  I  look  for  loyal  service,  in  that 
Sancho,  in  despite  of  his  knavery,  and  count  upon  him  as 
one  of  the  truest  of  my  followers." 

Here  the  admiral  was  interrupted  by  a  cry  from  the  deck 
beneath  him,  and  "looking  round,  his  practised  and  quick 
eye  was  not  slow  in  discovering  that  the  horizon  to  the 
southward  presented  the  usual  watery  blank  of  the  open 
ocean.  Ferro  had,  in  fact,  altogether  disappeared,  some 
of  the  most  sanguine  of  the  seamen  having  fancied  that 
they  beheld  it,  even  after  it  had  finally  sunk  behind  the 
barrier  of  waves.  As  the  circumstance  became  more  and 
more  certain,  the  lamentations  among  the  people  grew  less 
and  less  equivocal  and  louder,  tears  flowed  without  shame 
or  concealment,  hands  were  wrung  in  a  sort  of  senseless 
despair,  and  a  scene  of  such  clamour  ensued,  as  threatened 
some  serious  danger  to  the  expedition  from  this  new  quar 
ter.  Under  such  circumstances,  Columbus  had  all  the  peo 
ple  collected  beneath  the  break  of  the  poop,  and  standing 
on  the  latter,  where  he  could  examine  every  countenance 
for  himself,  he  addressed  them  on  the  subject  of  their  grief. 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  255 

On  this  occasion  the  manner  of  the  great  navigator  was 
earnest  and  sincere,  leaving  no  doubt  that  he  fully  believed 
in  the  truth  of  his  own  arguments,  and  that  he  uttered  no 
thing  with  the  hope  to  delude  or  to  mislead. 

«  When  Don  Ferdinand  and  Dona  Isabella,  our  respect 
ed  and  beloved  sovereigns,  honoured  me  with  the  commis 
sion  of  admiral  and  viceroy,  in  those  secret  seas  towards 
which  we  are  now  steering,"  he  said,  "  I  considered  it  as 
the  most  glorious  and  joyful  event  of  my  life,  as  I  now 
consider  this  moment,  that  seemeth  to  some  among  you  so 
painful,  as  second  to  it  in  hope  and  cause  for  felicitation. 
In  the  disappearance  of  Ferro,  I  see  also  the  disappearance 
of  the  Portuguese ;  for,  now  that  we  are  in  the  open  ocean, 
without  the  limits  of  any  known  land,  I  trust  that  Provi 
dence  hath  placed  us  beyond  the  reach  and  machinations 
of  all  our  enemies.  While  we  prove  true  to  ourselves, 
and  to  the  great  objects  that  are  before  us,  there  is  no  longer 
cause  for  fear.  If  any  person  among  you  hath  a  mind  to 
disburthen  himself,  in  this  matter,  let  him  speak  freely ;  we 
being  much  too  strong  in  argument  to  wish  to  silence  doubts 
by  authority." 

"Then,  Senor  Don  Almirante,"  put  in  Sancho,  whose 
tongue  was  ever  ready  to  wag,  as  occasions  offered,  "  it  is 
just  that  which  maketh  your  Excellency  so  joyful  that 
maketh  these  honest  people  so  sad.  Could  they  always 
keep  the  island  of  Ferro  in  sight,  or  any  other  known  land, 
they  would  follow  you  to  Cathay  with  as  gentle  a  pull  as 
the  launch  followeth  the  caravel  in  a  light  breeze  and 
smooth  water ;  but  it  is  this  leaving  all  behind,  as  it  might 
be,  earth  as  well  as  wives  and  children,  that  saddens  their 
hearts,  and  uncorks  their  tears." 

"  And  thou,  Sancho,  an  old  mariner  that  wast  born  at 
sea—" 

"Nay,  your  Excellency,  illustrious  Senor  Don  Almi 
rante,"  interrupted  Sancho,  looking  up  with  pretended  sim 
plicity,  "  not  exactly  at  sea,  though  within  the  scent  of  its 
odour ;  since,  having  been  found  at  the  shipwright's  gate, 
it  is  not  probable  they  would  have  made  a  haven  just  to 
land  so  small  a  part  of  the  freight." 

"  Well,  born  near  the  sea,  if  thou  wilt — but  from  thee  I 


*J56  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

expect  better  things  than  unmanly  lamentations  because  an 
island  hath  sunk  below  the  horizon." 

"  Excellency,  you  may ;  it  mattereth  little  to  Sancho,  if 
half  the  islands  in  the  sea  were  sunk  a  good  deal  lower. 
There  are  the  Cape  de  Verdes,  now,  which  I  never  wish  to 
look  upon  again,  and  Lampidosa,  besides  Stromboli  and 
others  in  that  quarter,  would  be  better  out  of  the  way,  than 
where  they  are,  as  for  any  good  they  do  us  seamen.  But, 
if  your  Excellency  will  condescend  to  tell  these  honest  peo 
ple  whither  it  is  that  we  are  bound,  and  what  you  expect  to 
find  in  port,  and,  more  especially,  when  we  are  to  come 
back,  it  would  comfort  them  in  an  unspeakable  degree." 

"  As  I  hold  it  to  be  the  proper  office  of  men  in  authority 
to  let  their  motives  be  known,  when  no  evil  followeth  the 
disclosure,  this  will  I  most  cheerfully  do,  requiring  the  at 
tention  of  all  near  me,  and  chiefly  of  those  who  are  most 
uneasy  concerning  our  present  position  and  future  move 
ments.  The  end  of  our  voyage  is  Cathay,  a  country  that 
is  known  to  lie  in  the  uttermost  eastern  extremity  of  Asia, 
whither  it  hath  been  more  than  once  reached  by  Christian 
travellers ;  and  its  difference  from  all  other  voyages,  or 
journeys,  that  may  have  been  attempted  in  order  to  reach 
the  same  country,  is  in  the  circumstance  that  we  go  west, 
while  former  travellers  have  proceeded  east.  But  this  is 
effecting  our  purposes  by  means  that  belong  only  to  stout 
hearted  mariners,  since  none  but  those  who  are  familiar 
with  the  ocean,  skilful  pilots  and  obedient  and  ready  sea 
men,  can  traverse  the  waters,  without  better  guides  than  the 
knowledge  of  the  stars,  currents,  winds,  and  other  pheno 
mena  of  the  Atlantic,  and  such  aids  as  may  be  gleaned  from 
science.  The  reason  on  which  I  act,  is  a  conviction  that 
the  earth  is  round,  whence  it  followeth  that  the  Atlantic, 
which  we  know  to  possess  an  eastern  boundary  of  land, 
must  also  have  a  western ;  and  from  certain  calculations 
that  leave  it  almost  certain,  that  this  continent,  which  I  hold 
will  prove  to  be  India,  cannot  lie  more  than  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  days'  sailing,  if  as  many,  from  our  own  Eu 
rope.  Having  thus  told  when  and  where  I  expect  to  find 
the  country  we  seek,  I  will  now  touch  a  little  on  the  advan 
tages  that  we  may  all  expect  to  derive  from  the  discovery. 
According  to  the  accounts  of  a  certain  Marco  Polo,  and  his 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  257 

relatives,  gentlemen  of  Venice,  and  men  of  fair  credit  and 
good  reputations,  the  kingdom  of  Cathay  is  not  only  one  of 
the  most  extensive  known,  but  one  that  most  aboundeth  in 
gold  and  silver,  together  with  the  other  metals  of  value,  and 
precious  stones.  Of  the  advantages  of  the  discovery  of 
such  a  land  to  yourselves,  ye  may  judge  by  its  advantages 
to  me.  Their  Highnesses  have  dignified  me  with  the  rank 
of  admiral  and  viceroy,  in  anticipation  of  our  success,  and, 
persevering  to  a  successful  termination  of  your  efforts,  the 
humblest  man  among  ye  may  look  with  confidence  to  some 
signal  mark  of  their  favour.  Rewards  will  doubtless  be 
rendered  in  proportion  to  your  merits ;  he  that  deserveth 
much,  receiving  more  than  he  who  hath  deserved  less.  Still 
will  there  be  sufficient  for  all.  Marco  Polo  and  his  relatives 
dwelt  seventeen  years  in  the  court  of  the  Great  Khan,  and 
were  every  way  qualified  to  give  a  true  account  of  the  riches 
and  resources  of  those  regions ;  and  well  were  they,  simple 
Venetian  gentlemen,  without  any  other  means  than  could 
be  transported  on  the  backs  of  beasts  of  burthen,  rewarded 
for  their  toils  and  courage.  The  jewels  alone,  with  which 
they  returned,  served  long  to  enrich  their  race,  renovating 
a  decayed  but  honourable  family,  while  they  did  their  en 
terprise  and  veracity  credit  in  the  eyes  of  men. 

"  As  the  ocean,  for  a  long  distance  this  side  of  the  con 
tinent  of  Asia  and  the  kingdom  of  Cathay,  is  known  to 
abound  with  islands,  we  may  expect  first  to  meet  with  them, 
where,  it  would  be  doing  nature  herself  injustice,  did  we 
not  anticipate  fragrant  freights  of  balmy  spices,  and  other 
valuable  commodities  with  which  that  favoured  quarter  of 
the  earth,  it  is  certain,  is  enriched.  Indeed,  it  is  scarce 
possible  for  the  imagination  to  conceive  of  the  magnitude 
of  the  results  that  await  our  success,  while  nought  but 
ridicule  and  contempt  could  attend  a  hasty  and  inconsider 
ate  return.  Going  not  as  invaders,  but  as  Christians  and 
friends,  we  have  no  reason  to  expect  other  than  the  most 
friendly  reception ;  and,  no  doubt,  the  presents  and  gifts, 
alone,  that  will  naturally  be  offered  to  strangers  who  have 
come  so  far,  and  by  a  road  that  hath  hitherto  been  un- 
travelled,  will  forty-fold  repay  you  for  all  your  toils  and 
troubles. 

"  T  say  nothing  of  the  honour  of  being  among  those  who 
22* 


258  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE, 

have  first  carried  the  cross  to  the  heathen  world,"  continued 
the  admiral,  uncovering  himself,  and  looking  around  him 
with  solemn  gravity  ;  "  though  our  fathers  believed  it  to  be 
no  little  distinction  to  have  been  one  in  the  armies  that  con 
tended  for  the  possession  of  the  sepulchre.  But,  neither 
the  church,  nor  its  great  master,  forgetteth  the  servitor  that 
advanceth  its  interests,  and  we  may  all  look  for  blessings, 
both  here  and  hereafter." 

As  he  concluded,  Columbus  devoutly  crossed  himself, 
ami  withdrew  from  the  sight  of  his  people  among  those 
who  were  on  the  poop.  The  effect  of  this  address  was,  for 
the  moment,  very  salutary,  and  the  men  saw  the  clouds 
that  hung  over  the  land  disappear,  like  the  land  itself,  with 
less  feeling  than  they  had  previously  manifested.  Never 
theless,  they  remained  distrustful  and  sad,  some  dreaming 
that  night  of  the  pictures  that  Columbus  had  drawn  of  the 
glories  of  the  East,  and  others  fancying  in  their  sleep,  that 
demons  were  luring  them  into  unknown  seas,  where  they 
were  doomed  to  wander  for  ever,  as  a  punishment  for  their 
sins ;  conscience  asserting  its  power,  in  all  situations,  and 
most  vividly  in  those  of  distrust  and  uncertainty. 

Shortly  before  sunset,  the  admiral  caused  the  three  ves 
sels  to  heave-to,  and  the  two  Pinzons  to  repair  on  board  his 
own  ship.  Here  he  laid  before  these  persons  his  oilers 
and  plans  for  their  government,  in  the  event  of  a  separation. 

"  Thus  you  will  understand  me,  Senores,"  he  concluded, 
after  having  explained  at  length  his  views :  "  Your  first 
and  gravest  duty  will  be  to  keep  near  the  admiral,  in  all 
weather,  and  under  every  circumstance,  so  long  as  it  may 
be  possible ;  but,  failing  of  the  possibility,  you  will  make 
your  way  due  westward,  on  this  parallel  of  latitude,  until 
you  have  gone  seven  hundred  leagues  from  the  Canaries ; 
after  which,  you  are  to  lie-to  at  night,  as,  by  that  time,  it  is 
probable  you  will  be  among  the  islands  of  Asia ;  and  it 
will  be  both  prudent  and  necessary  to  our  objects,  to  be 
more  on  the  alert  for  discoveries,  from  that  moment.  Still, 
you  will  proceed  westward,  relying  on  seeing  me  at  the 
court  of  the  Great  Khan,  should  Providence  deny  us  an 
earlier  Kneeling." 

"  This  is  well,  Senor  Almirante,"  returned  Martin  Alonzo, 
raising  his  eyes,  which  had  long  been  riveted  on  the  chart , 


MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE.  259 

"but  it  will  be  far  better  for  all  to  keep  together,  and 
chiefly  so  to  us,  who  are  little  used  to  the  habits  of  princes, 
if  we  await  your  excellency's  protection  before  we  rush  un« 
heedingly  into  the  presence  of  a  sovereign  as  potent  as  the 
Grand  Khan." 

"  Thou  showest  thy  usual  prudence,  good  Martin  Alonzo, 
and  I  much  commend  thee  for  it.  It  were,  indeed,  better 
that  thou  shouldst  wait  my  arrival,  since  that  eastern  po 
tentate  may  conceive  himself  better  treated  by  receiving  the 
first  visit  from  the  viceroy  of  the  sovereigns,  who  is  the 
bearer  of  letters  directly  from  his  own  royal  master  and 
mistress,  than  by  receiving  it  from  one  of  inferior  rank. 
Look  thou  well  to  the  islands  and  their  products,  Seiior 
Pinzon,  shouldst  thou  first  gain  those  seas,  and  await  my 
appearance,  before  thou  proceedest  to  aught  else.  How 
stand  thy  people  affected  on  taking  leave  of  the  land  ?" 

"  111  enough,  Senor ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  as  to  put  me 
in  fear  of  a  mutiny.  There  are  those  in  the  Pinta  who 
need  to  stand  in  wholesome  dread  of  the  anger  of  their 
Highnesses,  to  prevent  their  making  a  sudden  and  violent 
return  to  Palos." 

"  Thou  would'st  do  well  to  look  sharply  to  this  spirit,  that 
it  may  be  kept  under.  Deal  kindly  and  gently  with  these 
disaffected  spirits  as  long  as  may  be,  encouraging  them  by 
all  fair  and  reasonable  promises ;  but  beware  that  the  dis 
temper  get  not  the  mastery  of  thy  authority.  And  now, 
Senores,  as  the  night  approacheth,  take  boat  and  return  to 
your  vessels,  that  we  may  profit  by  the  breeze." 

When  Columbus  was  again  alone  with  Luis,  he  sate  in 
his  little  cabin,  with  a  hand  supporting  his  head,  musing 
like  one  lost  in  reflection. 

"  Thou  hast  long  known  this  Martin  Alonzo,  Don  Luis 
de  Bobadilla  ?"  he  at  length  asked,  betraying  the  current 
of  his  thoughts,  by  the  nature  of  the  question. 

"  Long,  Senor,  as  youths  count  time ;  though  it  would 
seem  but  a  day  in  the  calculations  of  aged  men." 

"  Much  dependeth  on  him  ;  I  hope  he  may  prove  honest ; 
as  yet  he  hath  shown  himself  liberal,  enterprising,  and 
manly." 

"  He  is  human,  Don  Christopher,  and  therefore  liable  to 
err.  Yet  as  men  go,  I  esteem  Martin  Alonzo  far  from  be- 


200  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

ing  among  the  worst  of  his  race.  He  hath  not  embarked 
in  this  enterprise  under  knightly  vows,  nor  with  any  church 
man's  zeal ;  but  give  him  the  chance  of  a  fair  return  for 
his  risks,  and  you  will  find  him  as  true  as  interest  ever 
leaveth  a  man,  when  there  is  any  occasion  to  try  his  selfish 
ness." 

"  Then  thou,  only,  will  I  trust  with  my  secret.  Look  at 
this  paper,  Luis.  Here  thou  seest  that  I  have  been  calcu 
lating  our  progress  since  morning,  and  I  find  thai  we  have 
come  full  nineteen  leagues,  though  it  l>e  not  in  a  direct 
westerly  line.  Should  I  let  the  people  know  how  far  we 
may  have  truly  come,  at  the  end  of  some  great  distance, 
there  being  no  land  visible,  fear  will  get  the  mastery  over 
them,  and  no  man  can  foresee  the  consequences.  I  shall 
write  down  publicly,  therefore,  but  fifteen  leagues,  keeping 
the  true  reckoning  sacred  for  thine  eye  and  mine.  God 
will  forgive  me  this  deception,  in  consideration  that  it  is 
practised  in  the  interest  of  his  own  church.  By  making 
these  small  deductions  daily,  it  will  enable  us  to  advance  a 
thousand  leagues,  without  awakening  alarm  sufficient  for 
more  than  seven  or  eight  hundred." 

"  This  is  reducing  courage  to  a  scale  I  little  dreamt  of, 
Senor,'5  returned  Luis,  laughing.  "  By  San  Luis,  my  true 
patron !  we  should  think  ill  of  the  knight  who  found  it 
necessary  to  uphold  his  heart  by  a  measurement  of  leagues." 

"  All  unknown  evils  are  dreaded  evils.  Distance  hath 
its  terrors  for  the  ignorant,  and  it  may  justly  have  its  ter 
rors  for  the  wise,  young  noble,  when  it  is  measured  on  a 
trackless  ocean  ;  and  there  ariseth  another  question  touch 
ing  those  great  staples  of  life,  food  and  water." 

"With  this  slight  reproof  of  the  levity  of  his  young  friend, 
the  admiral  prepared  himself  for  his  hammock  by  kneeling 
and  repeating  the  prayers  of  the  hour. 


MERCEDES  OF  CASTILE.  26] 


CHAPTEE  XYII. 

**  Whither^  'midst  falling  dew, 

While  glow  the  heavens  wkh  the  last  steps  of  day, 
Far,  through  their  rosy  depths,  dcst  thou  pursue 
Thy  solitary  way  ?" 

BRYANT. 

THE  slumbers  of  Columbus  were  of  short  duration. 
While  his  sleep  lasted  k  was  profound,  like  that  of  a  man 
who  has  so  much  control  over  his  will  as  to  have  reduced 
the  animal  functions  to  its  domination,  for  he  awoke  regu 
larly  at  short  intervals,  in  order  that  his  watchful  eye  might 
take  a  survey  of  the  state  of  the  weather,  and  of  the  con 
dition  of  his  vessels.  On  this  occasion,  the  admiral  was  on 
deck  again,  a  little  after  one,  where  he  found  all  things 
seemingly  in  that  quiet  and  inspiring  calm  that  ordinarily 
marks,  in  fine  weather,  a  middle  watch  at  sea.  The  men 
on  deck  mostly  slumbered,  the  drowsy  pilot,  and  the  steers 
man,  with  a  look-out  or  two,  alone  remaining  erect  and 
awake.  The  wind  had  freshened,  and  the  caravel  was 
ploughing  her  way  ahead,  with  an  untiring  industry,  leav 
ing  Ferro  and  its  dangers,  at  each  instant,  more  and  moro 
remote.  The  only  no'ses  that  were  audible,  were  the  gen 
tle  sighing  of  the  wind  among  the  cordage,  the  wash  of  the 
water,  and  the  occasional  creaking  of  a  yard,  as  the  breeze 
forced  it,  with  a  firmer  pressure,  to  distend  its  tackle  and  to 
strain  its  fittings. 

0) 


262  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

The  night  was  dark,  and  it  required  a  moment  to  accus 
tom  the  eye  to  objects  by  a  light  so  feeble :  when  this  was 
done,  however,  the  admiral  discovered  that  the  ship  was  not 
close  by  the  wind,  as  he  had  ordered  that  she  should  be 
kept.  Walking  to  the  helm,  he  perceived  that  it  was  so  far 
borne  up,  as  to  cause  her  head  to  fall  off  towards  the  north 
east,  which  was,  in  fact,  in  the  direction  to  Spain. 

"  Art  thou  a  seaman,  and  disregardest  thy  course,  in 
this  heedless  manner?"  sternly  demanded  the  admiral ;  "  or 
art  thou  only  a  muleteer,  who  fancieth  he  is  merely  wind 
ing  his  way  along  a  path  of  the  mountains.  Thy  heart  is 
in  Spain,  and  thou  thinkest  that  a  vain  wish  to  return  may 
meet  with  some  relief  in  this  idle  artifice !" 

"  Alas,  Senor  Almirante !  your  Excellency  hath  judged 
rightly  in  believing  that  my  heart  is  in  Spain,  where  it  ought 
to  be,  moreover,  as  1  have  left  behind  me  at  Moguer  seven 
motherless  children." 

"  Dost  thou  not  know,  fellow,  that  I  too  am  a  father,  and 
that  the  dearest  objects  of  a  father's  hopes  are  left  behind 
me,  also  1  In  what,  then,  dost  thou  differ  from  me,  my  son 
being  also  without  a  mother's  care  ?" 

"  Excellency,  he  hath  an  admiral  for  a  father,  whilst  my 
boys  have  only  a  helmsman  !" 

"  And  what  will  it  matter  to  Don  Diego,"  —  Columbus 
was  fond  of  dwelling  on  the  honours  he  had  received  from 
the  sovereigns,  even  though  it  were  a  little  irregularly — • 
"  what  will  it  matter  to  Don  Diego,  my  son,  that  his  parent 
perished  an  admiral,  if  he  perish  at  all;  and  in  what  will 
he  profit  more  than  your  children,  when  he  findeth  himself 
altogether  without  a  parent?" 

"  Senor,  it  will  profit  him  to  be  cherished  by  the  king 
and  queen,  to  be  honoured  as  your  child,  and  to  be  fostered 
and  fed  as  the  offspring  of  a  viceroy,  instead  of  being  cast 
aside  as  the  issue  of  a  nameless  mariner." 

"  Friend,  thou  hast  seme  reason  in  this,  and  insomuch  I 
respect  thy  feelings"  —  answered  Columbus,  who,  like  our 
own  Washington,  appears  to  have  always  subrnitt3d  to  a 
lofty  arid  pure  sense  of  justice — "  but  thou  would'st  do  weli 
to  remember  the  influence  that  thy  manly  and  successful 
perseverance  in  this  voyage  may  produce  on  the  welfare  of 
thy  children,  instead  of  thus  dwelling  on  weak  forebodings 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  263 

of  ills  that  are  little  likely  to  come  to  pass.  Neither  of  us 
hath  much  to  expect,  should  we  fail  of  our  discoveries,  while 
both  may  hope  every  thing  should  we  succeed.  Can  I  trust 
thee  now,  to  keep  the  ship  on  her  course,  or  must  I  send 
for  another  mariner  to  relieve  the  helm  ?" 

"  It  may  be  better,  noble  admiral,  to  do  the  last.  I  will 
bethink  me  of  thy  counsel,  and  strive  with  my  longings  for 
home ;  but  it  would  be  safer  to  seek  another  for  this  duty, 
while  we  are  so  near  to  Spain." 

"  Dost  thou  know  one  Sancho  Mundo,  a  common  seaman 
of  this  crew  ?" 

"  Senor,  we  all  know  him  ;  he  hath  the  name  of  the 
most  skilful  of  our  craft,  of  all  in  Moguer." 

"  Is  he  of  thy  watch,  or  sleepeth  he  with  his  fellows  of 
the  relief  below  ?" 

"  Senor,  he  is  of  our  watch ;  and  sleepeth  not  with  his 
fellows  below,  for  the  reason  that  he  sleepeth  on  deck.  No 
care,  or  danger,  can  unsettle  the  confidence  of  Sancho! 
To  him  the  sight  of  land  is  so  far  an  evil,  that  I  doubt  if  he 
rejoice  should  we  ever  reach  those  distant  countries  that 
your  Excellency  seemeth  to  expect  we  may." 

"Go  find  this  Sancho,  and  bid  him  come  hither:  I  will 
discharge  thy  office  the  while." 

Columbus  now  took  the  helm  with  his  own  hands,  and 
with  a  light  play  of  the  tiller  brought  the  ship  immediately 
up  as  near  the  wind  as  she  would  lie.  The  effect  was  felt 
in  more  quick  and  sudden  plunges  into  the  sea,  a  deeper 
heel  to  leeward,  and  a  fresh  creaking  aloft,  that  denoted  a 
renewed  and  increased  strain  on  all  the  spars  and  their 
tackle.  In  the  course  of  a  few  minutes,  however,  Sancho 
appeared  rubbing  his  eyes,  and  yawning. 

"  Take  thou  this  duty,"  said  the  admiral,  as  soon  as  the 
man  was  near  him,  "  and  discharge  it  faithfully.  Those 
who  have  been  here  already,  have  proved  unfaithful,  suf 
fering  the  vessel  to  fall  off,  in  the  direction  of  Spain ;  I  ex 
pect  better  things  of  thee.  I  think,  friend  Sancho,  I  may 
count  on  thee  as  a  true  and  faithful  follower,  even  in  ex 
tremity  ?" 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,"  said  Sancho,  who  took  the  helm, 
giving  it  a  little  play  to  feel  his  command  of  it,  as  a  skilful 
coachman  brings  his  team  in  subjection  on  first  assuming 


264  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

the  reins,  "  I  am  a  servant  of  the  crown's,  and  your  infe« 
rior  and  subordinate ;  such  duty  as  becometh  me,  I  am  ready 
to  discharge." 

"  Thou  hast  no  fear  of  this  voyage — no  childish  forebod 
ings  of  becoming  an  endless  wanderer  in  an  unknown  sea, 
without  hope  of  ever  seeing  wife  or  child  again  ?" 

"  Senor,  you  seem  to  know  our  hearts  as  well  as  if  your 
Excellency  had  made  them  with  your  own  hands,  and  then 
put  them  into  our  miserable  bodies !" 

"  Thou  hast,  then,  none  of  these  unsuitable  aad  unsea- 
manlike  apprehensions  ?" 

"  Not  as  much,  Excellency,  as  would  raise  an  ave  in  a 
parish  priest,  or  a  sigh  in  an  old  woman.  I  may  have  my 
misgivings,  for  we  all  have  weaknesses,  but  none  of  them 
incline  to  any  dread  of  sailing  about  the  ocean,  since  that  is 
my  happiness ;  nor  to  any  concern  about  wife  and  children, 
not  having  the  first,  and  wishing  not  to  think  I  have  the 
last." 

"If  thou  hast  misgivings,  name  them. — I  could  wish  to 
make  one  firm  as  thou,  wholly  my  friend." 

"  I  doubt  not,  Senor,  that  we  shall  reach  Cathay,  or 
whatever  country  your  Excellency  may  choose  to  seek ;  I 
make  no  question  of  your  ability  to  beard  the  Great  Khan, 
and,  at  need,  to  strip  the  very  jewels  from  his  turban ;  as 
turban  he  must  have,  being  an  Infidel ;  nor  do  I  feel  any 
misgivings  about  the  magnitude  and  richness  of  our  discove 
ries  and  freights,  since  I  believe,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  you 
are  skilful  enough  to  take  the  caravels  in  at  one  end  of 
the  earth  and  out  at  the  other ;  or,  even  to  load  them  with 
carbuncles,  should  diamonds  be  wanting." 

"  If  thou  hast  this  faith  in  thy  leader,  what  other  distrust 
can  give  thee  concern  ?" 

"  I  distrust  the  value  of  the  share,  whether  of  honour  or 
of  jewels,  that  will  fall  to  the  lot  of  one  Sancho  Mundo, 
a  poor  unknown,  almost  shirtless  mariner,  that  hath  more 
need  of  both  than  hath  ever  crossed  the  mind  of  our  gra 
cious  lady,  Doiia  Isabella,  or  of  her  royal  consort." 

"  Sancho,  thou  art  a  proof  that  no  man  is  without  his 
failings,  and  I  fear  thou  art  mercenary.  They  say  all  men 
have  their  prices ;  thou  seemest  clearly  to  have  thine." 

"  Your  Excellency  hath  not  been  sailing  about  the  world 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  265 

for  nothing,  or  you  could  not  tell  every  man  his  inclina 
tions  so  easily.  I  have  ever  suspected  I  was  mercenary,  and 
so  have  accepted  all  sorts  of  presents,  to  keep  the  feeling 
down.  Nothing  appeases  a  mercenary  longing  like  gifts 
and  rewards  ;  and  as  for  price,  I  strive  hard  to  keep  mine 
as  high  as  possible,  lest  it  should  bring  me  into  discredit  for 
a  mean  and  grovelling  spirit.  Give  me  a  high  price,  and 
plenty  of  gifts,  and  I  can  be  as  disinterested  as  a  mendi 
cant  friar." 

"  I  understand  thee,  Sancho ;  thou  art  to  be  bought,  but 
not  to  be  frightened.  In  thy  opinion  a  single  dobla  is  too 
little  to  be  divided  between  thee  and  thy  friend,  the  Portu 
guese.  I  will  make  a  league  with  thee  on  thine  own 
terms ;  here  is  another  piece  of  gold ;  see  that  thou  re- 
mainest  true  to  me  throughout  the  voyage." 

"  Count  on  me,  without  scruple,  Senor  Don  Almirante, 
and  with  scruples,  too,  should  they  interfere.  Your  Ex 
cellency  hath  not  a  more  disinterested  friend  in  the  fleet. 
I  only  hope  that  when  the  share-list  shall  be  written  out, 
the  name  of  Sancho  Mundo  may  have  an  honourable 
place,  as  will  become  his  fidelity.  And  now,  your  Ex 
cellency,  go  sleep  in  peace ;  the  Santa  Maria  shall  lie  as 
near  to  the  route  to  Cathay,  as  this  south-westerly  breeze 
will  suffer." 

Columbus  complied,  though  he  rose  once  or  twice  more, 
during  the  night,  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  weather,  and 
that  the  men  did  their  duties.  So  long  as  Sancho  remained 
at  the  helm,  he  continued  faithful  to  his  compact ;  but,  as 
he  went  below  with  his  watch,  at  the  usual  hour,  successors 
were  put  in  his  place,  who  betrayed  the  original  treachery 
of  the  other  helmsman.  When  Luis  left  his  hammock, 
Columbus  was  already  at  work,  ascertaining  the  distance 
that  had  been  run  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Catching  the 
inquiring  glance  of  the  young  man,  the  admiral  observed, 
gravely,  and  not  altogether  without  melancholy  in  his  man 
ner — 

"  We  have  had  a  good  run,  though  it  hath  been  more 
northerly  than  I  could  have  desired.  I  find  that  the  ves 
sels  are  thirty  leagues  farther  from  Ferro  than  when  the 
sun  set,  and  thou  seest,  here,  that  I  have  written  four-and- 
twenty  in  the  reckoning,  that  is  intended  for  the  eyes  of 
23 


266  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

the  people.  But  there  hath  been  great  weakness  at  work 
this  night  among  the  steersmen,  if  not  treachery :  they  have 
kept  the  ship  away  in  a  manner  to  cause  her  to  run  a  part 
of  the  time  in  a  direction  nearly  parallel  to  the  coast  of 
Europe,  so  that  they  have  been  endeavouring  to  deceive 
me,  on  the  deck,  whilst  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  at 
tempt  deceiving  them  in  the  cabin.  It  is  painful,  Don  Luis, 
to  find  such  deceptions  resorted  to,  or  such  deceptions  ne 
cessary,  when  one  is  engaged  in  an  enterprise  that  sur- 
passeth  all  others  ever  yet  attempted  by  man,  and  that, 
too,  with  a  view  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  advantage  of  the 
human  race,  a-nd  the  especial  interests  of  Spain." 

"The  holy  churchmen,  themselves,  Don  Christopher, 
are  obliged  to  submit  to  this  evil,"  answered  the  careless 
Luis ;  "  and  it  does  not  become  us  laymen  to  repkie  at 
what  they  endure.  I  am  told  that  half  the  miracles  they 
perform  are,  in  truth,  miracles  of  but  a  very  indifferent 
quality,  the  doubts  and  want  of  faith  of  us  hardened  sin 
ners  rendering  such  little  inventions  necessary  for  the  good 
of  our  souls." 

"  That  there  are  false-minded  and  treacherous  church 
men,  as  well  as  false-minded  and  treacherous  laymen,  Luis, 
1  little  doubt,"  answered  the  admiral ;  "  but  this  cometh  of 
the  fall  of  man,  and  of  his  evil  nature.  There  are  also 
righteous  and  true  miracles,  that  come  of  the  power  of  God, 
and  which  are  intended  to  uphold  the  faith,  and  to  encou 
rage  those  who  love  and  honour  his  holy  name.  I  do  not 
esteem  any  thing  that  hath  yet  befallen  us  to  belong  very 
distinctly  to  this  class ;  nor  do  I  venture  to  hope  that  we 
are  to  be  favoured  in  this  manner  by  an  especial  interven 
tion  in  our  behalf;  but  it  exceedeth  all  the  machinations  of 
the  devils  to  persuade  me  that  we  shall  be  deserted  while 
bent  on  so  glorious  a  design,  or  that  we  are  not,  indirectly 
and  secretly,  led,  in  our  voyage,  by  a  spirit  and  knowledge 
that  both  come  of  Divine  grace  and  infinite  wisdom." 

"  This  may  be  so,  Don  Christopher,  so  far  as  you  are 
concerned ;  though,  for  myself,  I  claim  no  higher  a  guide 
than  an  angel.  An  angel's  purity,  and  I  hope  I  may  add, 
an  angel's  love,  lead  me,  in  my  blind  path  across  tho 


ocean ! 


l" 


"  So  it  seemeth  to  thee,  Luis  ;  but  thou  canst  not  know 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  267 

that  a  higher  power  doth  not  use  the  Dona  Mercedes,  as  an 
instrument  in  this  matter.  Although  no  miracle  rendereth 
it  apparent  to  the  vulgar,  a  spirit  is  placed  in  my  breast,  in 
conducting  this  enterprise,  that  I  should  deem  it  blasphemy 
to  resist.  God  be  praised,  my  boy,  we  are  at  last  quit  of 
the  Portuguese,  and  are  fairly  on  our  road !  At  present  all 
our  obstacles  must  arise  from  the  elements,  or  from  cur 
own  fears.  It  gladdeneth  my  heart  to  find  that  the  two 
Pinzons  remain  true,  and  that  they  keep  their  caravels 
close  to  the  Santa  Maria,  like  men  bent  on  maintaining 
their  faith,  and  seeing  an  end  of  the  adventure." 

As  Luis  was  now  ready,  he  and  the  admiral  left  the 
cabin  together.  The  sun  had  risen,  and  the  broad  expanse 
of  the  ocean  was  glittering  with  his  rays.  The  wind  had 
freshened,  and  was  gradually  getting  farther  to  the-south, 
so  that  the  vessels  headed  up  nearly  to  their  course  ;  and, 
there  being  but  little  sea,  the  progress  of  the  fleet  was,  in 
proportion,  considerable.  Every  thing  appeared  propitious; 
and  the  first  burst  of  grief,  on  losing  sight  of  known  land, 
having  subsided,  the  crews  were  more  tranquil,  though 
dread  of  the  future  was  smothered,  like  the  latent  fires  of  a 
volcano,  rather  than  extinguished.  The  aspect  of  the  sea 
was  favourable,  offering  nothing  to  view  that  was  unusual 
to  mariners ;  and,  as  there  is  always  something  grateful  in 
a  lively  breeze,  when  unaccompanied  with  danger,  the  men 
were  probably  encouraged  by  a  state  of  things  to  which 
they  were  accustomed,  and  which  brought  with  it  cheerful 
ness  and  hope.  In  the  course  of  the  day  and  night,  the 
vessels  ran  a  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  still  farther  into 
the  trackless  waste  of  the  ocean,  without  awakening  half 
the  apprehensions  in  the  bosoms  of  the  mariners  that  they 
had  experienced  on  losing  sight  of  land.  Columbus,  how 
ever,  acting  on  the  cautious  principle  he  had  adopted,  when 
he  laid  before  his  people  the  result  of  the  twenty-four  hours' 
work,  reduced  the  distance  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

Tuesday,  the  1st  of  September,  brought  a  still  more  fa 
vourable  change  of  wind.  This  day,  for  the  first  time  since 
quitting  the  Canaries,  the  heads  of  the  vessels  were  laid 
fairly  to  the  west ;  and,  with  the  old  world  directly  behind 
them,  and  the  unknown  ocean  in  their  front,  the  adven 
turers  proceeded  onward  with  a  breeze  at  south-east.  The 


268  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

rate  of  sailing  was  about  five  miles  in  the  hour ;  compen 
sating  for  the  want  of  speed,  by  the  steadiness  of  their  pro 
gress,  and  by  the  directness  of  their  course. 

The  observations  that  are  usually  made  at  sea,  when  the 
sun  is  in  the  zenith,  were  over,  and  Columbus  had  just  an 
nounced  to  his  anxious  companions  that  the  vessels  were 
gradually  setting  south,  owing  to  the  drift  of  some  invisible 
current,  when  a  cry  from  the  mast-head,  announced  the 
proximity  of  a  whale.  As  the  appearance  of  one  of  these 
monsters  of  the  deep  breaks  the  monotony  of  a  sea-life, 
every  one  was  instantly  on  the  look-out,  some  leaping  into 
the  rigging,  and  others  upon  the  rails,  in  order  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  his  gambols. 

"  Dost  thou  see  him,  Sancho  ?"  demanded  the  admiral  of 
Mundo,  the  latter  being  near  him  at  the  moment.  "  To  me 
the  water  hath  no  appearance  of  any  such  animals  being 
at  hand." 

"  Your  Excellency's  eye,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  is  far 
truer  than  that  of  the  babbler's  aloft.  Sure  as  this  is  the 
Atlantic,  and  yonder  is  the  foam  of  the  crests  of  the  waves, 
there  is  no  whale." 

"The  flukes! — the  flukes !"  shouted  a  dozen  voices  at 
once,  pointing  to  a  spot  where  a  dark  object  arose  above 
the  froth  of  the  sea,  showing  a  pointed  summit,  with  short 
arms  extended  on  each  side.  "  He  playeth  with  his  head 
beneath  the  water,  and  the  tail  uppermost !" 

"Alas! — Alas!"  exclaimed  the  practised  Sancho,  with 
the  melancholy  of  a  true  seaman,  "  what  these  inexperi 
enced  and  hasty  brawlers  call  the  fluke  of  a  whale,  is  nought 
but  the  mast  of  some  unhappy  ship,  that  hath  left  her  bones, 
with  her  freight  and  her  people,  in  the  depths  of  the  ocean !" 

"Thou  art  right,  Sancho,"  returned  the  admiral.  "I 
now  see  that  thou  meanest :  it  is  truly  a  spar,  and  doubtless 
betokeneth  a  shipwreck." 

This  fact  passed  swiftly  from  mouth  to  mouth,  and  the 
sadness  that  ever  accompanies  the  evidences  of  such  a  dis 
aster,  settled  on  the  faces  of  all  the  beholders.  The  pilots 
alone  showed  indifference,  and  they  consulted  on  the  expe 
diency  of  endeavouring  to  secure  the  spar,  as  a  resource  in 
time  of  need ;  but  they  abandoned  the  attempt  on  account 
of  the  agitation  of  the  water,  and  of  the  fairness  of  the  wind, 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  269 

the  latter  being  an  advantage  a  true  mariner  seldom  likes 
to  lose. 

"  There  is  a  warning  to  us  !"  exclaimed  one  of  the  dis 
affected,  as  the  Santa  Maria  sailed  past  the  waving  summit 
of  the  spar ;  "  God  hath  sent  this  sign,  to  warn  us  not  to 
venture  where  he  never  intended  navigators  to  go !" 

"  Say,  rather,1'  put  in  Sancho,  who,  having  taken  the  fee, 
had  ever  since  proved  a  willing  advocate,  "  it  is  an  omen 
of  encouragement  sent  from  heaven.  Dost  thou  not  see  that 
the  part  of  the  mast  that  is  visible  resembleth  a  cross,  which 
holy  sign  is  intended  to  lead  us  on,  filled  with  hopes  of  suc 
cess?" 

"  This  is  true,  Sancho,"  interrupted  Columbus.  *«  A  cross 
hath  been  reared  for  our  edification,  as  it  might  be,  in  the 
midst  of  the  ocean,  and  we  are  to  regard  it  as  a  proof  that 
Providence  is  with  us,  in  our  attempt  to  cany  its  blessings 
to  the  aid  and  consolation  of  the  heathen  of  Asia." 

As  the  resemblance  to  the  holy  symbol  was  far  from 
fanciful,  this  happy  hit  of  Sancho's  was  not  without  its 
effect.  The  reader  will  understand  the  likeness  all  the 
better,  when  he  is  told  that  the  upper  end  of  a  mast  has 
much  of  the  appearance  of  a  cross,  by  means  of  the  trussel- 
trees ;  and,  as  often  happens,  this  particular  spar  was  float 
ing  nearly  perpendicular,  owing  10  some  heavy  object  being 
fast  to  its  heel,  leaving  the  summit  raised  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  sea.  In  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  this  last  relict  of  Europe  and  of  civilization  disap 
peared  in  the  wake  of  the  vessels,  gradually  diminishing  in 
size  and  settling  towards  the  water,  until  its  faint  outlines 
vanished  in  threads,  still  wearing  the  well-known  shape  of 
the  revered  symbol  of  Christianity. 

After  this  little  incident,  the  progress  of  the  vessels  was 
uninterrupted  by  any  event  worthy  of  notice  for  two  days 
and  nights.  All  this  time  the  wind  was  favourable,  and 
the  adventurers  proceeded  due  west,  by  compass,  which 
was  in  fact,  however,  going  a  little  north  of  the  real  point 
— a  truth  that  the  knowledge  of  the  period  had  not  yet 
mastered.  Between  the  morning  of  the  10th  September, 
and  the  evening  of  the  13th,  the  fleet  had  passed  over  near 
ninety  leagues  of  ocean,  holding  its  way  in  a  line  but  a 
little  deviating  from  a  direct  one  athwart  the  great  waste 
23* 


270  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

of  water,  and  having  consequently  reached  a  point  as  far, 
if  not  farther  west  than  the  position  of  the  Azores,  then 
the  most  westerly  land  known  to  European  navigators. 
On  the  13th,  the  currents  proved  to  be  adverse,  and  having 
a  south-easterly  set,  they  had  a  tendency  to  cause  the  ships 
to  sheer  southwardly,  bringing  them,  each  hour,  nearer  to 
the  northern  margin  of  the  trades. 

The  admiral  and  Luis  were  at  their  customary  post,  on 
the  evening  of  the  13th,  the  day  last  mentioned,  as  Sancbo 
left  the  helm,  his  tour  of  duty  having  just  ended.  Instead 
of  going  forward,  as  usual,  among  the  people,  the  fellow 
hesitated,  surveyed  the  poop  with  a  longing  eye,  and  find 
ing  it  occupied  only  by  the  admiral  and  his  constant  com 
panion,  he  ascended  the  ladder,  as  if  desirous  of  making 
some  communication. 

"Would'st  thou  aught  with  me,  Sancho?"  demanded 
the  admiral,  waiting  for  the  man  to  make  certain  that  no 
one  else  was  on  the  narrow  deck.  "  Speak  freely :  thou 
hast  my  confidence." 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,  your  Excellency  well  knoweth 
that  I  am  no  fresh-water  fish,  to  be  frightened  at  the  sight 
of  a  shark  or  a  whale,  or  one  that  is  terrified  because  a 
ship  headeth  west,  instead  of  east ;  and  yet  do  I  come  to 
say  that  this  voyage  is  not  altogether  without  certain  signs 
and  marvels,  that  "it  may  be  well  for  a  mariner  to  respect, 
as  unusual,  if  not  ominous." 

"As  thou  sayest,  Sancho,  thou  art  no  driveller  to  be  ter 
rified  by  the  flight  of  a  bird,  or  at  the  presage  of  a  drifting 
spar,  and  thou  awakenest  my  curiosity  to  know  more. 
The  Senor  de  Munos  is  my  confidential  secretary,  and  no 
thing  need  be  hid  from  him.  Speak  freely,  then,  and  with 
out  further  delay.  If  gold  is  thy  aim,  be  certain  thou  shalt 
have  it." 

"  No,  Senor,  my  news  is  not  worth  a  maravedi,  or  it  is 
far  beyond  the  price  of  gold  ;  such  as  it  is,  your  Excellency 
can  take  it,  and  think  no  more  of  my  reward.  You  know, 
Senor,  that  we  old  mariners  will  have  our  thoughts  as  we 
stand  at  the  helm,  sometimes  fancying  the  smiles  and  good 
looks  of  some  hussy  ashore,  sometimes  remembering  the 
flavour  of  rich  fruits  and  wsll-savoured  mutton ;  and  then, 
again,  for  a  wonder,  bethinking  us  of  our  sins." 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  271 

"  Fellow,  all  this  I  well  know ;  but  it  is  not  matter  for  an 
admiral's  ear." 

"I  know  not  that,  Senor;  I  have  known  admirals  who 
have  relished  mutton  after  a  long  cruise  ;  ay,  and  who  have 
bethought  them,  too,  of  smiling  faces  and  bright  eyes,  and 
who,  if  they  did  not,  at  times,  bethink  them  of  their  sins, 
have  done  what  was  much  worse,  help  to  add  to  the  great 
account  that  was  heaping  up  against  them.  Now,  there 
was " 

"  Let  me  toss  this  vagabond  into  the  sea,  at  once,  Don 
Christopher,"  interrupted  the  impatient  Luis,  making  a  for 
ward  movement  as  if  to  execute  the  threat,  an  act  which 
the  hand  of  Columbus  arrested ;  "  we  shall  never  hear  a 
tale  the  right  end  first,  as  long  as  he  remaineth  in  the 
ship." 

"  I  thank  you,  my  young  Lord  of  Llera,"  answered 
Sancho,  with  an  iromical  smile,  "  if  you  are  as  ready  at 
drowning  seamen,  as  you  are  at  unhorsing  Christian 
knights  in  the  tourney,  and  Infidels  in  the  fray,  I  would 
rather  that  another  should  be  master  of  my  baths." 

"  Thou  know'st  me,  knave  ?  —  Thou  hast  seen  me  on 
some  earlier  voyage." 

"  A  cat  may  look  at  a  king,  Senor  Conde ;  and  why  not 
a  mariner  on  his  passenger  ?  But  spare  your  threats,  and 
your  secret  is  in  safe  hands.  If  we  reach  Cathay,  no  one 
will  be  ashamed  of  having  made  the  voyage  ;  and  if  we 
miss  it,  it  is  little  likely  that  any  will  go  back  to  relate  the 
precise  manner  in  which  your  excellency  was  drowned,  or 
starved  to  death,  or  in  what  other  manner  you  became  a 
saint  in  Abraham's  bosom." 

"  Enough  of  this  !"  said  Columbus,  sternly  ;  "  relate 
what  thou  hast  to  say,  and  see  that  thou  art  discreet  touch 
ing  this  young  noble." 

"  Senor,  your  word  is  law.  Well,  Don  Christopher,  it 
is  one  of  the  tricks  of  us  mariners,  at  night,  to  be  watching 
an  old  and  constant  friend,  the  north  star ;  and  while  thus 
occupied,  an  hour  since,  I  noted  that  this  faithful  guide  and 
the  compass  by  which  I  was  steering,  told  different  tales." 

"  Art  certain  of  this  ?"  demanded  the  admiral,  with  a 
quickness  and  emphasis  that  betrayed  the  interest  he  felt  in 
the  communication. 


272  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"As  certain,  Sefior,  as  fifty  years'  looking  at  the  star, 
and  forty  years'  watching  of  the  compass  can  make  a  man. 
But  there  is  no  occasion,  your  Excellency,  to  depend  on  my 
ignorance,  since  the  star  is  still  -where  God  placed  it ;  and 
there  is  your  private  compass  at  your  elbow — one  may  be 
compared  with  the  other." 

Columbus  had  already  bethought  him  of  making  this 
comparison ;  and  by  the  time  Sancho  ceased  speaking,  he 
and  Luis  were  examining  the  instrument  with  eager  curios 
ity.  The  first,  and  the  most  natural,  impression,  was  a  belief 
that  the  needle  of  the  instrument  below  was  defective,  or, 
at  least,  influenced  by  some  foreign  cause  ;  but  an  attentive 
observation  soon  convinced  the  navigator,  that  the  remark 
of  Sancho  was  true.  He  was  both  astonished  and  con 
cerned  to  find  that  the  habitual  care,  and  professional  eye 
of  the  fellow  had  been  active,  and  quick  to  note  a  change 
as  unusual  as  this.  It  was  indeed  so  common  with  mari 
ners  to  compare  their  compasses  with  the  north  star,  a  lumi 
nary  that  was  supposed  never  to  vary  its  position  in  the 
heavens,  as  that  position  related  to  man,  that  no  experienced 
seaman,  who  happened  to  be  at  the  helm  at  nightfall,  could 
well  overlook  the  phenomenon. 

After  repeated  observations  with  his  own  compasses,  of 
which  he  kept  two — one  on  the  poop,  and  another  in  the 
cabin ;  and  having  recourse  also  to  the  two  instruments  in 
the  binnacle,  Columbus  was  compelled  to  admit  to  himself 
that  all  four  varied,  alike,  from  their  usual  direction,  nearly 
six  degrees.  Instead  of  pointing  due  north,  or,  at  least,  in 
a  direct  line  towards  a  point  on  the  horizon  immediately  be 
neath  the  star,  they  pointed  some  five  or  six  degrees  to  the 
westward  of  it.  This  was  both  a  novel  and  an  astound 
ing  departure  from  the  laws  of  nature,  as  they  were  then 
understood,  and  threatened  to  render  the  desired  results  of 
the  voyage  so  much  the  more  difficult  of  attainment,  as  it 
at  once  deprived  the  adventurers  of  a  sure  reliance  on  the 
mariner's  principal  guide,  and  would  render  it  difficult  to 
sail,  with  any  feeling  of  certainty  as  to  the  course,  in  cloudy 
weather,  or  dark  nights.  The  first  thought  of  the  admiral, 
on  this  occasion,  however,  was  to  prevent  the  effect  which 
such  a  discovery  would  be  likely  to  produce  on  men  already 
disposed  to  anticipate  the  worst. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  273 

"Thou  wilt  say  nothing  of  this,  Sancho?"  he  observed 
to  the  man.  "  Here  is  another  dobla  to  add  to  thy  store." 

"Excellency,  pardon  a  humble  seaman's  disobedience, 
if  my  hand  refuse  to  open  to  your  gift.  This  matter  touch- 
eth  of  supernatural  means ;  and,  as  the  devil  may  have  an 
agency  in  the  miracle,  in  order  to  prevent  our  converting 
them  heathen,  of  whom  you  so  often  speak,  I  prefer  to  keep 
my  soul  as  pure  as  may  be,  in  the  matter,  since  no  one 
knoweth  what  weapons  we  may  be  driven  to  use,  should  we 
come  to  real  blows  with  the  Father  of  Sin." 

"  Thou  wilt,  at  least,  prove  discreet  ?" 

"  Trust  me  for  that,  Senor  Don  Almirante ;  not  a  word 
shall  pass  my  lips  about  this  matter,  until  I  have  your  Ex 
cellency's  permission  to  speak." 

Columbus  dismissed  the  man,  and  then  he  turned  towards 
Luis,  who  had  been  a  silent  but  attentive  listener  to  what 
had  passed. 

"  You  seem  disturbed  at  this  departure  from  the  usual 
laws  of  the  compass,  Don  Christopher,"  observed  the  young 
man,  gaily.  "  To  me  it  would  seem  better  to  rely  alto 
gether  on  Providence,  which  would  scarcely  lead  us  out 
here,  into  the  wide  Atlantic,  on  its  own  errand,  and  desert 
us  when  we  most  need  its  aid." 

"  God  implants  in  the  bosom  of  his  servants  a  desire  to 
advance  his  ends,  bi»t  human  agents  are  compelled  to  em 
ploy  natural  means  ,  and,  in  order  to  use  such  means  ad 
vantageously,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  them.  I  look 
upon  this  phenomenon  as  a  proof  that  our  voyage  is  to  re 
sult  in  discoveries  of  unknown  magnitude,  among  which, 
perhaps,  are  to  be  numbered  some  clue  to  the  mysteries  of 
the  needle.  The  mineral  riches  of  Spain  differ,  in  certain 
particulars,  from  the  mineral  riches  of  France ;  for,  though 
some  things  are  common  to  all  lands,  others  are  peculiar  to 
particular  countries.  We  may  find  regions  where  the 
loadstone  abound??,  or  may,  even  now,  be  in  the  neighbour 
hood  of  some  island  that  hath  an  influence  on  our  com 
passes  that  we  cannot  explain." 

"  Is  it  known  that  islands  have  ever  produced  this  effect 
on  the  needle?" 

"It  is  not  —  nor  do  I  deem  such  a  circumstance  very 
probable,  though  all  things  are  possible.  We  will  wait 


974 

MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

patiently  for  further  proofs  that  this  phenomenon  is  real  and 
permanent,  ere  we  reason  further  on  a  matter  that  is  so 
difficult  to  be  understood." 

The  subject  was  now  dropped,  though  the  unusual  inci 
dent  gave  the  great  navigator  an  uneasy  and  thoughtful 
night.  He  slept  little,  and  often  was  his  eye  fastened  on 
the  compass  that  was  suspended  in  his  cabin  as  a  "  tell 
tale,"  for  so  seamen  term  the  instrument  by  which  the 
officer  overlooks  the  course  that  is  steered  by  the  helms 
man,  even  when  the  latter  least  suspects  his  supervision. 
Columbus  arose  sufficiently  early  to  get  a  view  of  the  star 
before  its  brightness  was  dimmed  by  the  return  of  light, 
and  made  another  deliberate  comparison  of  the  position  of 
this  familiar  heavenly  body  with  the  direction  of  the  needles. 
The  examination  proved  a  slight  increase  of  the  variation, 
and  tended  to  corroborate  the  observations  of  the  previous 
night.  The  result  of  the  reckoning  showed  that  the  ves 
sels  had  run  nearly  a  hundred  miles  in  the  course  of  the 
last  twenty-four  hours,  and  Columbus  now  believed  himself 
to  be  about  six  times  that  distance  west  of  Ferro,  though 
even  the  pilots  fancied  themselves  by  no  means  as  far. 

As  Sancho  kept  his  secret,  and  no  other  eye  among  the 
helmsmen  was  as  vigilant,  the  important  circumstance,  as 
yet,  escaped  general  attention.  It  was  only  at  night,  in 
deed,  that  the  variation  could  be  observed  by  means  of  the 
polar  star,  and  it  was  yet  so  slight  that  no  one  but  a  very 
experienced  and  quick-eyed  mariner  would  be  apt  to  note 
A.  The  whole  of  the  day  and  night  of  the  14th  consequently 
passed  without  the  crew's  taking  the  alarm,  and  this  so 
much  the  more  as  the  wind  had  fallen,  and  the  vessels 
were  only  some  sixty  miles  farther  west  than  when  they 
commenced.  Still  Columbus  noted  the  difference,  slight  as 
was  the  change,  ascertaining,  with  the  precision  of  an  ex 
perienced  and  able  navigator,  that  the  needle  was  gradually 
varying  more  and  more  to  the  westward,  though  it  was  by 
steps  that  were  nearly  imperceptible. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  275 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"On  thy  unaltering  blaze 
The  half-wrecked  mariner,  his  compass  lost, 

Fixes  his  steady  gaze, 

And  steers,  undoubting,  to  the  friendly  coast ; 
And  they  who  stray  in  perilous  wastes,  by  night, 
Are  glad  when  thou  dost  shine  to  guide  their  footsteps  right." 

Hymn  to  the  North  Star. 

THE  following  day  was  Saturday,  the  15th,  when  the 
little  fleet  was  ten  days  from  Gomera,  or  it  was  the  sixth 
morning  since  the  adventurers  had  lost  sight  of  the  land. 
The  last  week  had  been  one  of  melancholy  forebodings, 
though  habit  was  beginning  to  assert  its  influence,  and  the 
men  manifested  openly  less  uneasiness  than  they  had  done 
in  the  three  or  four  previous  days.  Their  apprehensions 
were  getting  to  be  dormant  for  want  of  any  exciting  and 
apparent  stimulus,  though  they  existed  as  latent  impulses, 
in  readiness  to  be  roused  at  the  occurrence  of  any  untoward 
event.  The  wind  continued  fair,  though  light — the  whole 
twenty-four  hours'  work  showing  considerably  less  than  a 
hundred  miles,  as  the  true  progress  west.  All  this  time 
Columbus  kept  his  attention  fastened  on  the  needles,  and 
he  perceived  that  as  the  vessels  slowly  made  their  westing, 
the  magnets  pointed  more  and  more,  though  by  scarcely 
palpable  changes,  in  the  same  direction. 

The  admiral  and  Luis,  by  this  time,  had  fallen  into  such 
habits  of  close  communication,  that  they  usually  rose  and 
slept  at  the  same  time.  Though  far  too  ignorant  of  the 
hazards  he  ran  to  feel  uneasiness,  and  constitutionally,  as 
well  as  morally,  superior  to  idle  alarms,  the  young  man  had 
got  to  feel  a  sort  of  sportsman's  excitement  in  the  result ; 
and,  by  this  time,  had  not  Mercedes  existed,  he  would  have 
been  as  reluctant  to  return  without  seeing  Cathay,  as  Co 
lumbus  himself.  They  conversed  together  of  their  pro 
gress  and  their  hopes,  without  ceasing,  and  Luis  took  so 
much  interest  in  his  situation  as  to  begin  to  learn  how  to 


276 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


discriminate  in  matters  that  might  be  supposed  to  affect  its 
duration  and  ends. 

On  the  night  of  the  Saturday  just  mentioned,  Columbus 
and  his  reputed  secretary  were  alone  on  the  poop,  convers 
ing,  as  usual,  on  the  signs  of  the  times,  and  of  the  events 
of  the  day. 

"  The  Nina  had  something  to  say  to  you,  last  evening, 
Don  Christopher,"  observed  the  young  man ;  "  I  was  occu 
pied  in  the  cabin,  with  my  journal,  and  had  no  opportunity 
of  knowing  what  passed." 

"  Her  people  had  seen  a  bird  or  two,  that  are  thought 
never  to  go  far  from  the  land.  It  is  possible  that  islands 
are  at  no  great  distance,  for  man  hath  nowhere  passed  over 
any  very  great  extent  of  sea  without  meeting  with  them. 
We  cannot,  however,  waste  the  time  necessary  for  a  search, 
since  the  glory  and  profit  of  ascertaining  the  situation  of  a 
group  of  islands  would  be  but  a  poor  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  a  continent." 

"  Do  you  still  remark  those  unaccountable  changes  in 
the  needles,  Senor  ?" 

"  In  this  respect  there  is  no  change,  except  that  which 
goeth  to  corroborate  the  phenomenon.  My  chief  appre 
hension  is  of  the  effect  on  the  people,  when  the  circum 
stance  shall  be  known." 

"  Are  there  no  means  to  persuade  them  that  the  needle 
pointeth  thus  west,  as  a  sign  Providence  willeth  they  should 
pursue  that  course,  by  persevering  in  the  voyage." 

"  This  might  do,  Luis,"  answered  the  admiral,  smiling, 
"  had  not  fear  so  sharpened  their  wits,  that  their  first  ques 
tion  would  be  an  inquiry  why  Providence  should  deprive  us 
of  the  means  of  knowing  whither  we  are  travelling,  when 
it  so  much  wisheth  us  to  go  in  any  particular  direction." 

A  cry  from  the  watch  on  deck  arrested  the  discourse, 
while  a  sudden  brightness  broke  on  the  night,  illumina 
ting  the  vessels  and  the  ocean,  as  if  a  thousand  lamps  were 
shedding  their  brilliancy  upon  the  surrounding  portion  of 
the  sphere.  A  ball  of  fire  was  glancing  athwart  the  hea 
vens,  and  seemed  to  fall  into  the  sea,  at  the  distance  of  a 
few  leagues,  or  at  the  limits  of  the  visible  horizon.  Its  dis 
appearance  was  followed  by  a  gloom  as  profound  as  the 
extraordinary  and  fleeting  light  had  been  brilliant.  This 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  277 

was  only  the  passage  of  a  meteor;  but  it  was  such  a  meteor 
as  men  do  not  se'e  more  than  once  in  their  lives — if  it 
is  seen  as  often ;  and  the  superstitious  manners  did  not 
fail  to  note  the  incident  among  the  extraordinary  omens 
that  accompanied  the  voyage ;  some  auguring  good,  and 
others  evil,  from  the  event. 

"By  St.  lago!"  exclaimed  Luis,  as  soon  as  the  light 
had  vanished,  "SenorDon  Christopher,  this  voyage  of  ours 
doth  not  seem  fated  to  pass  away  unheeded  by  the  elements 
and  other  notable  powers  !  Whether  these  portents  speak 
in  our  favour,  or  not,  they  speak  us  any  thing  but  men  en 
gaged  in  an  every-day  occupation." 

"  Thus  it  is  with  tlie  human  mind!"  returned  Columbus. 
"  Let  but  its  owner  pass  beyond  the  limits  of  his  ordinary 
habits  and  duties,  and  he  sees  marvels  in  the  most  simple 
changes  of  the  weather — in  a  flash  of  lightning — a  blast 
of  air — or  the  passage  of  a  meteor  ;  little  heeding  that  these 
miracles  exist  in  his  own  consciousness,  arid  have  no  con 
nexion  with  the  every-day  laws  of  nature.  These  sights 
are  by  no  means  uncommon,  especially  in  low  latitudes; 
and  they  augur  neither  for  nor  against  our  enterprise." 

"  Except,  Senor  Almirante,  as  they  may  beset  the  spirits 
and  haunt  the  imaginations  of  the  men.  Sancho  telleth 
me,  that  a  brooding  discontent  is  growing  among  them  ; 
and,  that  while  they  seem  so  tranquil,  their  disrelish  of  the 
voyage  is  hourly  getting  to  be  more  and  more  decided." 

Notwithstanding  this  opinion  of  the  admiral,  and  some 
pains  that  he  afterwards  took  to  explain  the  phenomenon  to 
the  people  on  deck,  the  passage  of  the  meteor  had,  indeed, 
not  only  produced  a  deep  impression  on  them,  but  its  his 
tory  went  from  watch  to  watch,  and  was  the  subject  of  ear 
nest  discourse  throughout  the  night.  But  the  incident  pro 
duced  no  open  manifestation  of  discontent ;  a  few  deeming 
it  a  propitious  omen,  though  most  secretly  considered  it  un 
admonition  from  heaven  against  any  impious  attempts  to 
pry  into  those  mysteries  of  nature  that,  according  to  their 
notions,  God,  in  his  providence,  had  not  seen  fit  to  reveal 
to  man. 

All  this  time  the  vessels  were  makiag  a  steady  pro 
gress  towards  the  west.  The  wind  had  often  varied,  both 
in  force  and  direction,  but  nev^r  in  a  manner  to  conipol  the 
24 


278  MERCEDES    OF    CASTJiS. 

ships  to  shorten  sail,  or  to  deviate  from  wbftt  the  admiral 
believed  to  be  the  proper  COUMM.  Thvy  sup]i/o.>ci{  thi-m- 
selves  to  be  steering  due  west,  but,  owicj  to  the  variation, 
were  in  fact  now  holding  a  west-and-by-aouth  course,  and 
were  gradually  getting  nearer  to  the  trades;  a  movement 
in  which  they  had  also  been  materially  aided  by  the  force 
of  the  currents.  In  the  course  of  the  15th  and  16th  of  the 
month,  the  fleet  had  got  about  two  hundred  miles  farther 
from  Europe,  Columbus  taking  the  usual  precaution  to 
lessen  the  distance  in  the  public  reckoning.  The  latter  day 
was  a  Sunday ;  and  the  religious  offices,  which  were  then 
seldom  neglected  in  a  Christian  ship,  produced  a  deep  and 
sublime  effect  on  the  feelings  of  the  adventurers.  Hitherto 
the  weather  had  partaken  of  the  usual  character  of  the  sea 
son,  and  a  few  clouds,  with  a  slight  drizzling  rain,  had  re 
lieved  the  heat ;  but  these  soon  passed  away,  and  were  suc 
ceeded  by  a  soft  south-east  wind,  that  seemed  to  come 
charged  with  the  fragrance  of  the  land.  The  men  united 
in  the  evening  chants,  under  these  propitious  circumstances  ; 
the  vessels  drawing  near  each  other,  as  if  it  might  be  to 
form  one  temple  in  honour  of  God,  amid  the  vast  solitudes 
of  an  ocean  that  had  seldom,  if  ever,  been  whitened  by  a 
sail.  Cheerfulness  and  hope  succeeded  to  this  act  of  devo 
tion,  and  both  were  speedily  heightened  by  a  cry  from  the 
look-out  aloft,  who  pointed  ahead  and  to  leeward,  as  if  he 
beheld  some  object  of  peculiar  interest  in  that  quarter. 
The  helms  were  varied  a  little ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
vessels  entered  into  a  field  of  sea-weed,  that  covered  the 
ocean  for  miles.  This  sign  of  the  vicinity  of  land  was  re 
ceived  by  the  mariners  with  a  shout ;  and  the  very  beings 
who  had  so  shortly  before  been  balancing  on  the  verge  of 
despair,  now  became  elate  with  joy. 

These  weeds  were  indeed  of  a  character  to  awaken  hope 
in  the  bosom  of  the  most  experienced  mariner.  Although 
some  had  lost  their  freshness,  a  great"  proportion  of  them 
were  still  green,  and  had  the  appearance  of  having  been 
quite  recently  separated  from  their  parent  rocks,  or  the 
earth  that  had  nourished  them.  No  doubt  was  now  enter 
tained  even  by  the  pilots,  of  the  vicinity  of  land.  Tunny- 
fish  were  also  seen  in  numbers,  and  the  people  of  the  Nma 
were  sufficiently  fortunate  to  strike  one.  The  seamen  em- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  279 

braced  each  other,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  many  a 
hand  was  squeezed  in  friendly  congratulation,  that  the  pre 
vious  day  would  have  been  withheld  in  surly  misanthropy. 

"And  do  you  partake  of  all  this  hope,  Don  Christopher?" 
demanded  Luis ;  "  are  we  really  to  expect  the  Indies  as  a 
consequence  of  these  marine  plants,  or  is  the  expectation 
idle?" 

"  The  people  deceive  themselves  in  supposing  our  voyage 
near  an  end.  Cathay  must  yet  be  very  distant  from  us. 
We  have  come  but  three  hundred  and  sixty  leagues  since 
losing  sight  of  Ferro,  which,  according  to  my  computations, 
cannot  be  much  more  than  a  third  of  our  journey.  Aris 
totle  mentioneth  that  certain  vessels  of  Cadiz  were  forced 
westward  by  heavy  gales,  until  they  reached  a  sea  covered 
with  weeds,  a  spot  where  the  tunny-fish  abounded.  This 
is  the  fish,  thou  must  know,  Luis,  that  the  ancients  fancied 
could  see  better  with  the  right  eye  than  with  the  left,  be 
cause  it  hath  been  noted  that,  in  passing  the  Bosphorus, 
they  ever  take  the  right  shore  in  proceeding  towards  the 
Euxine,  and  the  left  in  returning — " 

"  By  St.  Francis !  there  can  be  no  wonder  if  creatures 
so  one-sided  in  their  vision,  should  have  strayed  thus  far 
from  home,"  interrupted  the  light-hearted  Luis,  laughing. 
"  Doth  Aristotle,  or  the  other  ancients,  tell  us  how  they  re 
garded  beauty  ;  or  whether  their  notions  of  justice  were  like 
those  of  the  magistrate  who  hath  been  fed  by  both  parties  ?" 

"  Aristotle  speaketh  only  of  the  presence  of  the  fish  in 
the  weedy  ocean,  as  we  see  them  before  us.  The  mariners 
of  Cadiz  fancied  themselves  in  the  neighbourhood  of  sunken 
islands,  and,  the  wind  permitting,  made  the  best  of  their 
way  back  to  their  own  shores.  This  place,  in  my  judg 
ment,  we  have  now  reached ;  but  I  expect  to  meet  with  no 
land,  unless,  indeed,  we  may  happen  to  fall  in  with  some 
island  that  lieth  off  here  in  the  ocean,  as  a  sort  of  beacon 
between  the  shore  6f  Europe  and  that  of  Asia.  Doubtless 
land  is  not  distant,  whence  these  weeds  have  drifted,  but  I 
attach  little  importance  to  its  sight,  or  discovery.  Cathay 
is  my  aim,  Don  Luis,  and  I  am  a  searcher  for  continents 
not  islands." 

It  is  now  known  that  while  Columbus  was  right  in  his 
expectations  of  not  finding  a  continent  so  early,  he  waa 


280  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

mistaken  in  supposing  land  to  lie  anywhere  in  that  vicinity 
Whether  these  weeds  are  collected  by  the  course  of  the  cur 
rents,  or  whether  they  rise  from  the  bottom,  torn  from  their 
beds  by  the  action  of  the  water,  is  not  yet  absolutely  ascer 
tained,  though  the  latter  is  the  most  common  opinion,  ex 
tensive  shoals  existing  in  this  quarter  of  the  ocean.  Under 
the  latter  supposition,  the  mariners  of  Cadiz  were  nearer  the 
truth  than  is  first  apparent,  a  sunken  island  having  all  the 
characteristics  of  a  shoal,  but  those  which  may  be  supposed 
to  be  connected  with  the  mode  of  formation. 

No  land  was  seen.  The  vessels  continued  their  progress 
at  a  rate  but  little  varying  from  five  miles  the  hour,  shoving 
aside  the  weeds,  which  at  times  accumulated  in  masses  un 
der  their  bows,  but  which  could  offer  no  serious  obstacle  to 
their  progress.  As  for  the  admiral,  so  lofty  were  his  views, 
so  steady  his  opinions  concerning  the  great  geographical 
problem  he  was  about  to  solve,  and  so  determined  his  reso 
lution  to  persevere  to  the  end,  that  he  rather  hoped  to  miss 
than  to  fall  in  with  the  islands,  that  he  fancied  could  be  at 
no  great  distance.  The  day  and  night  carried  the  vessels 
rather  more  than  one  hundred  miles  to  the  westward, 
placing  the  fleet  not  far  from  midway  between  the  meridians 
that  bounded  the  extreme  western  and  eastern  margins  of 
the  two  continents,  though  still  much  nearer  to  Africa  than 
to  America,  following  the  parallel  of  latitude  on  which  it 
was  sailing.  As  the  wind  continued  steady,  and  the  sea 
was  as  smooth  as  a  river,  the  three  vessels  kept  close  toge 
ther,  the  Pinta,  the  swiftest  craft,  reducing  her  canvass  for 
that  purpose.  During  the  afternoon's  watch  of  the  day 
that  succeeded  that  of  the  meeting  with  the  weeds,  which 
was  Monday,  the  17th  September,  or  the  eighth  day  after 
losing  sight  of  Ferro,  .Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  hailed  the 
Santa  Maria,  and  acquainted  the  pilot  on  deck  of  his  in 
tention  to  get  the  amplitude  of  the  sun,  as  soon  as  the 
luminary  should  be  low  enough,  with  a  view  to  ascertain 
how  far  his  needles  retained  their  virtue.  This  observation, 
one  of  no  unusual  occurrence  among  mariners,  it  was 
thought  had  better  be  made  in  all  the  caravels  simultane 
ously,  that  any  error  of  one  might  be  corrected  by  the 
greater  accuracy  of  the  rest. 

Columbus  and  Luis  were  in  a  profound  sleep,  in  their 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  281 

cots,  taking  their  siestas,  when  the  former  was  awakened 
by  such  a  shake  of  the  shoulder  as  seamen  are  wont  to 
give,  and  are  content  to  receive.  It  never  required  more 
than  a  minute  to  arouse  the  great  navigator  from  his  deep 
est  slumbers  to  the  fullest  possession  of  his  faculties,  and 
he  was  awake  in  an  instant. 

•*  Senor  Don  Almirante,"  said  Sancho,  who  was  the  in 
truder,  "  it  is  time  to  be  stirring :  all  the  pilots  are  on  deck 
in  readiness  to  measure  the  amplitude  of  the  sun,  as  soon 
as  the  heavenly  bodies  are  in  their  right  places.  The  west 
is  already  beginning  to  look  like  a  dying  dolphin,  and  ere 
many  minutes  it  will  be  gilded  like  the  helmet  of  a  Moorish 
Sultan." 

"  An  amplitude  measured !"  exclaimed  Columbus,  quit 
ting  his  cot  on  the  instant.  "  This  is  news,  indeed  !  Now 
we  may  look  for  such  a  stir  among  the  people,  as  hath  not 
been  witnessed  since  we  left  Cadiz  i" 

"  So  it  hath  appeared  to  me,  your  Excellency,  for  the 
mariner  hath  some  such  faith  in  the  needle  as  the  church 
man  bestoweth  on  the  goodness  of  the  Son  of  God.  The 
people  are  in  a  happy  humour  at  this  moment,  but  the  saints 
only  know  what  is  to  come  !"  * 

The  admiral  awoke  Luis,  and  in  five  minutes  both  were 
at  their  customary  station  on  the  poop.  Columbus  had 
gained  so  high  a  reputation  for  skill  in  navigation,  his  judg 
ment  invariably  proving  right,  even  when  opposed  to  those 
of  all  the  pilots  in  the  fleet,  that  the  latter  were  not  sorry 
to  perceive 'he  had  no  intention  to  take  an  instrument  in 
hand,  but  seemed  disposed  to  leave  the  issue  to  their  own 
skill  and  practice.  The  sun  slowly  settled,  the  proper  time 
was  watched,  and  then  these  rude  mariners  set  about  their 
task,  in  the  mode  that  was  practised  in  their  time.  Martin 
Alonzo  Pinzon,  t'he  most  ready  and  best-taught  of  them  all, 
was  soonest  through  with  his  task.  From  his  lofty  stand, 
the  admiral  could  overlook  the  deck  of  the  Pinta,  which 
vessel  was  sailing  but  a  hundred  yards  from  the  Santa 
Maria,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  observed  her  com 
mander  moving  from  one  compass  to  another,  in  the  man 
ner  of  a  man  who  was  disturbed.  Another  minute  or 
two  elapsed,  when  the  skiff  of  the  caravel  was  launched ; 
a  sign  was  made  for  the  admiral's  vessel  to  shorten  sail, 
24* 


282  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

and  Martin  Alonzo  was  soon  forcing  his  way  through  the 
weeds  that  still  covered  the  surface  of  the  ocean  towards 
the  Santa  Maria.  As  he  gained  the  deck  of  the  latter  ship, 
on  one  of  her  sides,  his  kinsman,  Vicente  Yanez,  the  com. 
mander  of  the  Nina,  did  the  same  thing  on  the  other.  In 
the  next  instant  both  were  at  the  side  of  the  great  navigator, 
on  the  poop,  whither  they  had  been  followed  by  Sancho 
Ruiz  and  Bartolemeo  Roldan,  the  two  pilots  of  the  admiral. 

"  What  meaneth  this  haste,  good  Martin  Alonzo  ?"  calmly 
asked  Columbus :  "  thou  and  thy  brother,  Vicente  Yanez, 
and  these  honest  pilots,  hurry  towards  me  as  if  ye  had 
cheering  tidings  from  Cathay." 

"  God  only  knoweth,  Senor  Almirante,  if  any  of  us  are 
ever  to  be  permitted  to  see  that  distant  land,  or  any  shore 
that  is  only  to  be  reached  by  mariners  through  the  aid  of  a 
needle,"  answered  the  elder  Pinzon,  with  a  haste  that  almost 
rendered  him  breathless.  "  Here  have  we  all  been  at  the 
comparison  of  the  instruments,  and  we  find  them,  without 
a  single  exception,  varying  from  the  true  north,  by,  at  least, 
a  full  point !" 

"  That  would  be  a  marvel,  truly !  Ye  have  made  some 
Oversight  in  your  observations,  or  have  been  heedless  in  the 
estimates." 

"  Not  so,  noble  admiral,"  put  in  Vicente  Yanez,  to  sus 
tain  his  brother.  "  Even  the  magnets  are  becoming  false 
to  us ;  and  as  I  mentioned  the  circumstance  to  the  oldest 
steersman  of  my  craft,  he  assures  me  that  the  North  Star 
did  not  tally  with  his  instrument  throughout  the  night !" 

"  Others  say  the  same,  here,"  added  Ruiz — "  Nay,  some 
are  ready  to  swear  that  the  wonder  hath  been  noted  ever 
since  we  entered  the  sea  of  weeds  I" 

"  This  may  be  so,  Senores,"  answered  Columbus,  with 
an  undisturbed  mien,  "  and  yet  no  evil  follow.  We  all 
know  that  the  heavenly  bodies  have  their  revolutions,  some 
of  which  no  doubt  are  irregular,  while  others  are  more  in 
conformity  with  certain  settled  rules.  Thus  it  is  with  the 
sun  himself,  which  passeth  once  round  the  earth  in  the  short 
space  of  twenty-four  hours,  while  no  doubt  he  hath  other, 
and  more  subtle  movements,  that  are  unknown  to  us,  on 
account  of  the  exceeding  distance  at  which  he  is  placed  in 
the  heavens.  Many  astronomers  have  thought  that  they 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  283 

have  been  able  to  detect  these  variations,  spots  having  been 
seen  on  the  disk  of  the  orb  at  times,  which  have  disappeared, 
as  if  hid  behind  the  body  of  the  luminary.  I  think  it  will 
be  found  that  the  North  Star  hath  made  some  slight  devia- 
tion  in  its  position,  and  that  it  will  continue  thus  to  move 
for  some  short  period,  after  which,  no  doubt,  it  will  be  found 
returning  to  its  customary  position,  when  it  will  be  seen  that 
its  temporary  eccentricity  hath  in  no  manner  disturbed  its 
usual  harmony  with  the  needles.  Note  the  star  well  through 
out  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  let  the  amplitude  be  again 
taken,  when  I  think  the  truth  of  my  conjecture  will  be 
proved  by  the  regularity  of  the  movement  of  the  heavenly 
body.  So  far  from  being  discouraged  by  this  sign,  we 
ought  rather  to  rejoice  that  we  have  made  a  discovery, 
which,  of  itself,  will  entitle  the  expedition  to  the  credit  of 
having  added  materially  to  the  stores  of  science !" 

The  pilots  were  fain  to  be  satisfied  with  this  solution  of 
their  doubts,  in  the  absence  of  any  other  means  of  account 
ing  for  them.  They  remained  long  on  the  poop  discoursing 
of  the  strange  occurrence,  and,  as  men  even  in  their  blind 
est  moods,  usually  reason  themselves  into  either  tranquillity 
or  apprehension,  they  fortunately  succeeded  in  doing  the 
first  on  this  occasion.  With  the  men  there  was  more  diffi 
culty,  for  when  it  became  known  to  the  crews  of  the  three 
vessels  that  the  needles  had  begun  to  deviate  from  their 
usual  direction,  a  feeling  akin  to  despair  seized  on  them, 
almost  without  exception.  Here  Sancho  was  of  material 
service.  When  the  panic  was  at  its  height,  and  the  people 
were  on  the  point  of  presenting  themselves  to  the  admiral, 
with  a  demand  that  the  heads  of  the  caravels  should  be  im 
mediately  turned  towards  the  north-east,  he  interposed  with 
his  knowledge  and  influence  to  calm  the  tumult.  The  first 
means  this  trusty  follower  had  recourse  to,  in  order  to  bring 
his  shipmates  back  to  reason,  was  to  swear,  without  reser 
vation,  that  he  had  frequently  known  the  needle  and  the 
North  Star  to  vary,  having  witnessed  the  fact  with  his  own 
eyes  on  twenty  previous  occasions,  and  no  harm  to  come 
of  it.  He  invited  the  elder  and  more  experienced  seamen 
to  make  an  accurate  observation  of  the  difference  which 
already  existed,  which  was  quite  a  point  of  the  compass, 


284  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

and  then  to  see,  in  the  morning,  if  this  difference  had  not 
increased  in  the  same  direction. 

"  This,"  he  continued,  "  will  be  a  certain  sign,  my 
friends,  that  the  star  is  in  motion,  since  we  can  all  see 
that  the  compasses  are  just  where  they  have  been  ever 
since  we  left  Palos  de  Moguer.  When  one  of  two  things 
is  in  motion,  and  it  is  certain  which  stands  still,  there 
can  be  no  great  difficulty  in  saying  which  is  the  uneasy 
one.  Now,  look  thou  here,  Martin  Martinez," — who  was 
one  of  the  most  factious  of  the  disaffected — "  words  are  of 
little  use  when  men  can  prove  their  meaning  by  experi 
ments  like  this.  Thou  seest  two  balls  of  spun-yarn  on  this 
windlass ;  well,  it  is  wanted  to  be  known  which  of  them 
remains  there,  and  which  is  taken  away.  I  remove  the 
smallest  ball,  thou  perceivest,  and  the  largest  remains;  from 
which  it  followeth,  as  only  one  can  remain,  and  that  one  is 
the  larger  ball,  why  the  smaller  must  be  taken  away.  I 
hold  no  man  fit  to  steer  a  caravel,  by  needle  or  by  star, 
who  will  deny  a  thing  that  is  proven  as  plainly  and  as 
simply  as  this !" 

Martin  Martinez,  though  a  singularly  disaffected  man, 
was  no  logician ;  and,  Sancho's  oaths  backing  his  demon 
strations  to  the  letter,  his  party  soon  became  the  most  nu 
merous.  As  there  is  nothing  so  encouraging  to  the  dull- 
minded  and  discontented  mutineer,  as  to  perceive  that  he  is 
of  the  strongest  side,  so  is  there  nothing  so  discouraging  as 
to  find  himself  in  the  minority ;  and  Sancho  so  far  pre 
vailed  as  to  bring  most  of  his  fellows  round  to  a  belief  in 
the  expediency  of  waiting  to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  in 
the  morning,  before  they  committed  themselves  by  any  act 
of  rashness. 

"  Thou  hast  done  well,  Sancho,"  said  Columbus,  an 
hour  later,  when  the  mariner  came  secretly  to  make  his 
nightly  report  of  the  state  of  feeling  among  the  people. 
"  Thou  hast  done  well  in  all  but  these  oaths,  taken  to  prove 
that  thou  hast  witnessed  this  phenomenon  before.  Much  as 
I  have  navigated  the  earth,  and  careful  as  have  been  my 
observations,  and  ample  as  have  been  my  means,  never  be 
fore  have  I  known  the  needle  to  vary  from  its  direction  to 
wards  the  North  Star :  and  I  think  that  which  hath  escaped 
my  notice  would  not  be  apt  to  attract  thine." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  285 

"  You  do  me  injustice,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  and  have 
inflicted  a  wound  touching  my  honesty,  that  a  dobla  only 
can  cure — " 

"  Thou  knowest,  Sancho,  that  no  one  felt  more  alarm 
when  the  deviation  of  the  needle  was  first  noted,  than  thy 
self.  So  great,  in  sooth,  was  thy  apprehension,  that  thou 
even  refused  to  receive  gold,  a  weakness  of  which  thou  art 
usually  exceedingly  innocent." 

"  When  the  deviation  was  first  noted,  your  Excellency, 
this  was  true  enough ;  for,  not  to  attempt  to  mislead  one 
who  hath  more  penetration  than  befalleth  ordinary  men,  I 
did  fancy  that  our  hopes  of  ever  seeing  Spain  or  St.  Clara 
de  Moguer,  again,  were  so  trifling  as  to  make  it  of  no  great 
consequence  who  was  admiral,  and  who  a  simple  helms 
man." 

"  And  yet  thou  would'st  now  brazen  it  out,  and  deny  thy 
terror!  Didst  thou  not  swear  to  thy  fellows,  that  thou 
hadst  often  seen  this  deviation  before ;  ay,  even  on  as  many 
as  twenty  occasions  ?" 

"  Well,  Excellency,  this  is  a  proof  that  a  cavalier  may 
make  a  very  capital  viceroy  and  admiral,  and  know  all 
about  Cathay,  without  having  the  clearest  notions  of  his 
tory  !  I  told  my  shipmates,  Don  Christopher,  that  I  had 
noted  these  changes  before  this  night,  and  if  tied  to  the 
stake  to  be  burnt  as  a  martyr,  as  I  sometimes  think  will 
one  day  be  the  fate  of  all  of  us  superfluously  honest  men, 
I  would  call  on  yourself,  Senor  Almirante,  as  the  witness  of 
the  truth  of  what  I  had  sworn  to." 

"  Thou  would'st,  then,  summon  a  most  unfortunate  wit 
ness,  Sancho,  since  I  neither  practise  false  oaths  myself, 
nor  encourage  their  use  in  others." 

"  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  y  Pedro  de  Munos,  here,  would 
hen  be  my  reliance,"  said  the  imperturbable  Sancho ;  "  for 
proof  a  man  hath-  a  right  to,  when  wrongfully  accused,  and 
proof  I  will  have.  Your  Excellency  will  please  to  remem 
ber  that  it  was  on  the  night  of  Saturday  the  15th,  that  I 
first  notified  your  worship  of  this  very  change,  and  that  we 
are  now  at  the  night  of  Monday  the  17th.  I  swore  to 
twenty  times  noting  this  phenomenon,  as  it  is  called,  in 
those  eight-and-forty  hours,  when  it  would  have  been  nearer 


286  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  truth  had  I  said  two  hundred  times.  Santa  Maria!  I 
did  nothing  but  note  it  for  the  first  few  hours !" 

"  Go  to,  Sancho,  thy  conscience  hath  its  latitude  as  well 
as  its  longitude;  but  thou  hast  thy  uses.  Now,  that  thou 
understandest  the  reason  of  the  variation,  however,  thou 
wilt  encourage  thy  fellows,  as  well  as  keep  up  thy  spirits." 

"  I  make  no  question  that  it  is  all  as  your  Excellency 
sayeth  about  the  star's  travelling,"  returned 'Sancho,  "and 
it  hath  crossed  my  mind  that  it  is  possible  we  are  nearei 
Cathay  than  we  have  thought ;  this  movement  being  made 
by  some  evil-disposed  spirits  on  purpose  to  make  us  lose 
the  way." 

"  Go  to  thy  hammock,  knave,  and  bethink  thee  of  thy 
sins ;  leaving  the  reasons  of  these  mysteries  to  those  who 
are  better  taught.  There  is  thy  dobla,  and  see  that  thou 
art  discreet." 

In  the  morning  every  being  in  the  three  caravels  waited 
impatiently  for  the  results  of  the  new  observations.  As  the 
wind  continued  favourable,  though  far  from  fresh,  and  a 
current  was  found  setting  to  the  westward,  the  vessels  had 
made,  in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours,  more  than  a  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles,  which  rendered  the  increase  in  the  va 
riation  perceptible,  thus  corroborating  a  prophecy  of  Colum 
bus,  that  had  been  ventured  on  previous  observation.  So 
easily  are  the  ignorant  the  dupes  of  the  plausible,  that  this 
solution  temporarily  satisfied  all  doubts,  and  it  was  gene 
rally  believed  that  the  star  had  moved,  while  the  needle 
remained  true. 

How  far  Columbus  was  misled  by  his  own  logic  in  this 
affair,  is  still  a  matter  of  doubt.  That  he  resorted  to  decep 
tions  which  might  be  considered  innocent,  in  order  to  keep 
up  the  courage  of  his  companions,  is  seen  in  the  fact  of  the 
false,  or  public  reckoning ;  but  there  is  no  proof  that  this 
was  one  of  the  instances  in  which  he  had  recourse  to  such 
means.  No  person  of  any  science  believed,  even  when  the 
variation  of  the  compass  was  unknown,  that  the  needle 
pointed  necessarily  to  the  Polar  Star ;  the  coincidence  in  the 
direction  of  the  magnetic  needle  and  the  position  of  the  hea 
venly  body,  being  thought  accidental ;  and  there  is  nothing 
extravagant  in  supposing  that  the  admiral,  who  had  the 
Instrument  in  his  possession,  and  was  able  to  ascertain  that 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  287 

none  of  its  virtue  was  visibly  lost,  while  he  could  only  rea 
son  from  supposed  analogy  concerning  the  evolutions  of 
the  star,  should  imagine  that  a  friend  he  had  ever  found  so 
faithful,  had  now  deserted  him,  leaving  him  disposed  to 
throw  the  whole  mystery  of  the  phenomenon  on  the  more 
distant  dwellers  in  space.  Two  opinions  have  been  ven 
tured  concerning  the  belief  of  the  celebrated  navigator,  in 
the  theory  he  advanced  on  this  occasion ;  the  one  affirming, 
and  the  other  denying  his  good  faith  in  urging  the  doctrine 
he  had  laid  down.  Those  who  assert  the  latter,  however, 
would  seem  to  reason  a  little  loosely  themselves,  their  ar 
gument  mainly  resting  on  the  improbability  of  a  man  like 
Columbus  uttering  so  gross  a  scientific  error,  at  a  time 
when  science  itself  knew  no  more  of  the  existence  of  the 
phenomenon,  than  is  known  to-day  of  its  cause.  Still  it  is 
possible  that  the  admiral  may  not  have  had  any  settled  no 
tions  on  the  subject,  even  while  he  was  half  inclined  to  hope 
his  explanation  was  correct ;  for  it  is  certain,  that,  in  the 
midst  of  the  astronomical  and  geographical  ignorance  of  his 
age,  this  extraordinary  man  had  many  accurate  and  sub 
lime  glimpses  of  truths  that  were  still  in  embryo  as  re 
spected  their  developement  and  demonstration  by  the  lights 
of  precise  and  inductive  reasoning. 

Fortunately,  if  the  light  brought  with  it  the  means  of 
ascertaining  with  certainty  the  variation  of  the  needle,  it 
also  brought  the  means  of  perceiving  that  the  sea  was  still 
covered  with  weeds,  and  other  signs  that  were  thought  to 
be  encouraging  as  connected  with  the  vicinity  of  land. 
The  current  being  now  in  the  same  direction  as  the  wind, 
the  surface  of  the  ocean  was  literally  as  smooth  as  that  of 
an  inland  sheet  of  water,  and  the  vessels  were  enabled  to 
sail,  without  danger,  within  a  few  fathoms  of  each  other. 

"  This  weed,  Senor  Almirante,"  called  out  the  elder  Pin- 
zon,  "  hath  the  appearance  of  that  which  groweth  on  the 
banks  of  streams,  and  I  doubt,  that  we  are  near  to  the  mouth 
of  some  exceeding  great  river  !" 

"  This  may  be  so,"  returned  Columbus,  "  than  which 
Jhere  can  be  no  more  certain  sign  than  may  be  found  in 
the  taste  of  the  water.  Let  a  bucket  be  drawn,  that  we 
may  know." 

While  Pepe  was  busied  in  executing  this  order,  waiting 


288  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

until  the  vessel  had  passed  through  a  large  body  of  weeds 
for  that  purpose,  the  quick  eye  of  the  admiral  detected  a  crab 
struggling  on  the  surface  of  the  fresh-looking  plants,  and 
be  called  to  the  helmsman  in  sufficient  season,  to  enable 
him  so  far  to  vary  his  course,  as  to  allow  the  animal  to  be 
taken. 

"  Hers  is  a  most  precious  prize,  good  Martin  Alonzo," 
said  Columbus,  holding  the  crab  between  a  finger  and 
thumb,  that  the  other  might  see  it.  "  These  animals  are 
never  known  to  go  farther  than  some  eighty  leagues  from 
the  land  ;  and  see,  Senor,  yonder  is  one  of  the  white  tropic 
birds,  which,  it  is  said,  never  sleep  on  the  water  !  Truly, 
God  favoureth  us ;  and  what  rendereth  all  these  tokens 
more  grateful,  is  the  circumstance  of  their  coming  from  the 
west,  the  hidden,  unknown,  mysterious  west !" 

A  common  shout  burst  from  the  crews  at  the  appearance 
of  these  signs,  and  again  the  beings  who  lately  had  been 
on  the  verge  of  despair,  were  buoyed  up  with  hopcj  and 
ready  to  see  propitious  omens  in  even  the  most  common 
occurrences  of  the  ocean.  All  the  vessels  had  hauled  up 
buckets  of  water,  and  fifty  mouths  were  immediately  wet 
with  the  brine ;  and  so  general  was  the  infatuation,  that 
every  man  declared  the  sea  far  less  salt  than  usual.  So 
complete,  indeed,  was  the  delusion  created  by  these  cheer 
ful  expectations,  and  so  thoroughly  had  all  concern  in  con- 
nextion  with  the  moving  star  been  removed  by  the  sophism  of 
Sancho,  that  even  Columbus,  habitually  so  wary,  so  reason 
ing,  so  calm,  amid  his  loftiest  views,  yielded  to  his  native 
enthusiasm,  and  fancied  that  he  was  about  to  discover  some 
vast  island  placed  midway  between  Asia  and  Europe  ;  an 
honour  not  to  be  despised,  though  it  fell  so  far  short  of  his 
higher  expectations. 

"Truly,  friend  Martin  Alonzo,"  he  said,  "this  water 
seemeth  to  have  less  of  the  savour  of  the  sea,  than  is  cus 
tomary  at  a  distance  from  the  outlet  of  large  rivers !" 

"  My  palate  telleth  the  same  tale,  Senor  Almirante.  As 
a  further  sign,  the  Nina  hath  struck  another  tunny,  and 
her  people  are  at  this  moment  hoisting  it  in." 

Shout  succeeded  shout,  as  each  new  encouraging  proof 
appeared ;  and  the  admiral,  yielding  to  the  ardour  of  the 
crews,  ordered  sail  to  be  pressed  on  all  the  vessels,  that 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  289 

each  might  endeavour  to  outstrip  the  others,  in  the  hope  of 
be'ng  the  first  to  discover  the  expected  island.  This  strHe 
soon  separated  the  caravels,  the  Pinta  easily  outsailing  the 
other  two,  while  the  Santa  Maria  and  the  "Nina  came  on 
more  slowly,  in  her  rear.  All  was  gaiety  and  mirth,  the 
livelong  day,  on  board  those  isolated  vessels,  that,  unknown 
to  those  they  held,  were  navigating  the  middle  of  the  At 
lantic,  with  horizon  extending  beyond  horizon,  without 
change  in  the  watery  boundary,  as  circle  would  form  with 
out  circle,  on  the  same  element,  were  a  vast  mass  of  solid 
matter  suddenly  dropped  into  the  sea. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

'*  The  sails  were  fill'd,  and  fair  the  light  winds  blew, 
As  glad  to  waft  him  from  his  native  home ; 
And  fast  the  white  rocks  faded  from  his  view, 
And  soon  were  lost  in  circumambient  foam  : 
And  then,  it  may  be,  of  his  wish  to  roam 
Repented  he,  but  in  his  bosom  slept 
The  silent  thought,  nor  from  his  lips  did  come 
One  word  of  wail,  whilst  others  sate  and  wept, 
And  to  the  reckless  gales  unmanly  moaning  kept." 

Childe  Harold's  Pilgrimage. 

As  wight  drew  near,  the  Pinta  shortened  sail,  permitting 
her  consorts  to  close.  All  eyes  now  turned  anxiously  to 
the  west,  where  it  was  hoped  that  land  might  at  any  mo 
ment  appear.  The  last  tint,  however,  vanished  from  the 
horizon,  and  darkness  enveloped  the  ocean  without  bring 
ing  any  material  change.  The  wind  still  blew  a  pleasant 
breeze  from  the  south-east,  and  the  surface  of  the  ocean 
offered  little  more  inequality  than  is  usually  met  on  the 
bosoms  of  large  rivers.  The  compasses  showed  a  slightly 
increasing  deviation  from  their  old  coincidence  with  the 
polar  star,  and  no  one  doubted,  any  longer,  that  the  fault 
was  in  the  heavenly  body.  All  this  time  the  vessels  were 
25 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

getting  to  the  southward,  steering  in  fact  west  and  by  south 
when  they  thought  they  were  steering  west, — a  circum 
stance  that  alone  prevented  Columbus  from  first  reaching 
the  coast  of  Georgia,  or  that  of  the  Carolinas,  since,  had 
he  missed  the  Bermudas,  the  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream, 
meeting  him  on  his  weather  bow,  he  would  ha7e  infallibly 
been  set  well  to  the  northward,  as  he  neared  the  continent. 

The  night  passed  as  usual,  and  at  noon  of  the  17th,  or 
at  the  termination  of  the  nautical  day,  the  fleet  had  left 
another  long  track  of  ocean  between  it  and  the  old  world. 
The  weeds  were  disappearing,  and  with  them  the  tunny - 
fish,  which  were  in  truth  feeding  on  the  products  of  shoals 
that  mounted  several  thousands  of  feet  nearer  to  the  sur 
face  of  the  water,  than  was  the  case  with  the  general  bed 
of  the  Atlantic.  The  vessels  usually  kept  near  each  other 
at  noon,  in  order  to  compare  their  observations ;  but  the 
Pinta,  which,  like  a  swift  steed,  was  with  difficulty  restrain 
ed,  shot  ahead,  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  when,  as 
usual,  she  lay-by  for  the  admiral  to  close.  As  the  Santa 
Maria  came  sweeping  on,  the  elder  Pinzon  stood,  cap  in 
hand,  ready  to  speak  her,  waiting  only  for  her  to  come 
within  sound  of  his  voice. 

"  God  increaseth  the  signs  of  land,  and  the  motives  of 
encouragement,  Senor  Don  Christopher;"  he  called  out, 
cheerfully,  while  the  Pinta  filled  her  sails  in  order  to  keep 
way  with  the  admiral.  "  We  have  seen  large  flights  of 
birds  ahead,  and  the  clouds  at  the  north  look  heavy  and 
dense,  as  if  hovering  over  some  island,  or  continent,  in  that 
quarter." 

"  Thou  art  a  welcome  messenger,  worthy  Martin  Alonzo, 
though  I  wish  thee  to  remember,  that  the  most  I  expect  to 
meet  with  in  this  longitude  is  some  cluster  of  pleasant 
islands,  Asia  being  yet  several  days'  sail  more  distant.  As 
the  night  approacheth,  thou  wilt  see  thy  clouds  take  still 
more  of  the  form  of  the  land,  and  I  doubt  that  groups  may 
be  found  on  each  side  of  us ;  but  our  high  destination  is 
Cathay,  and  men  with  such  an  object  before  them,  may  not 
turn  aside  for  any  lesser  errand." 

"  Have  I  your  leave,  noble  admiral,  to  push  ahead  in 
the  Pinta,  that  our  eyes  may  first  be  greeted  with  the  grate 
ful  sight  of  Asia  ?  I  nothing  doubt  of  seeing  it  ere  morning." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  291 

"  Go,  of  God's  sake,  good  pilot,  if  thou  thinkest  this  ; 
though  I  warn  thee,  that  no  continent  can  yet  meet  thine 
eyes.  Nevertheless,  as  any  land  in  these  distant  and  un 
known  seas  must  be  a  discovery,  and  bring  credit  on  Cas 
tile,  as  well  as  on  ourselves,  he  who  fast  perceiveth  it  will 
merit  the  reward.  Thou,  or  any  one  else,  hath  my  full 
permission  to  discover  islands,  or  continents,  in  thousands." 

The  people  laughed  at  this  sally,  for  the  light-hearted  are 
easily  excited  to  mirth  ;  and  then  the  Pinta  shot  ahead.  As 
the  sun  set,  she  was  seen  again  lying-to  for  her  companions 
— a  dark  speck  on  the  rainbow  colours  of  the  glorious  sky. 
The  horizon  at  the  north  presented  masses  of  clouds,  in 
which  it  was  not  difficult  to  fancy  the  summits  of  ragged 
mountains,  receding  valleys,  with  headlands,  and  promonto 
ries,  foreshortened  by  distance. 

The  following  day  the  wind  baffled,  for  the  first  time 
since  encountering  the  trades  ;  and  the  clouds  collected 
over-head,  dispersing  drizzling  showers  on  the  navigators. 
The  vessels  now  lay  near  each  other,  and  conversation  flew 
from  one  to  the  other — boats  passing  and  repassing,  con 
stantly. 

"  I  have  come,  Senor  Almirante,"  said  the  elder  Pinzon, 
as  he  reached  the  deck  of  the  Santa  Maria,  ««  at  the  united 
request  of  my  people,  to  beg  that  we  may  steer  to  the 
north,  in  quest  of  land,  islands  and  continent,  that  no  doubt 
lie  there,  and  thus  crown  th^s  great  enterprise  with  the 
glory  that  is  due  to  our  illustrious  sovereigns,  and  your 
own  forethought." 

"  The  wish  is  just,  good  Martin  Alonzo,  and  fairly  ex 
pressed,  but  it  may  not  be  granted.  That  we  should  make 
creditable  discoveries,  by  thus  steering,  is  highly  probable, 
out  in  so  doing  we  should  fall  far  short  of  our  aim.  Cathay 
and  the  Great  Khan  still  lie  west ;  and  we  are  here,  not  to 
add  another  group,  like  the  Canaries,  or  the  Azores,  to  the 
knowledge  of  man,  but  to  complete  the  circle  of  the  earth, 
and  !o  open  the  way  for  the  setting  up  of  the  cross  in  the 
regions  that  have  so  long  been  the  property  of  infidels." 

"  Hast  thou  nothing  to  say,  Seilor  de  Munos,  in  support 
of  our  petition?  Thou  hast  favour  with  his  Excellency, 
and  may  prevail  on  him  to  grant  us  this  small  behest  ?" 

"  To  tell  thee  the  truth,  good  Martin  Alonzo,"  answered 


292  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Luis,  with  more  of  the  indifference  of  manner  that  might 
have  been  expected  from  the  grandee  to  the  pilot,  than  the 
respect  that  would  become  the  secretary  to  the  second  person 
of  the  expedition — "  to  tell  thee  truth,  good  Martin  Alonzo, 
my  heart  is  so  set  on  the  conversion  of  the  Great  Khan, 
that  I  wish  not  to  turn  either  to  the  right  or  left,  until  thai 
glorious  achievement  be  sufficiently  secure.  I  have  ob 
served  that  Satan  effecteth  little  against  those  who  keep  in 
the  direct  path,  while  his  success  with  those  who  turn  aside 
is  so  material,  as  to  people  his  dominions  with  errants." 

"  Is  there  no  hope,  noble  admiral  ?  and  must  we  quit  all 
these  cheering  signs,  without  endeavouring  to  trace  them 
to  some  advantageous  conclusion  ?" 

"  I  see  no  better  course,  worthy  friend.  This  rain  indi- 
cateth  land ;  also  this  calm ;  and  here  is  a  visiter  that  de- 
noteth  more  than  either  —  yonder,  in  the  direction  of  thy 
Pinta,  where  it  seemeth  disposed  to  rest  its  wings." 

Pinzon,  and  all  near  him,  turned,  and  to  their  common 
delight  and  astonishment  they  saw  a  pelican,  with  extend- 
ed  wings  that  spread  for  ten  feet,  sailing  a  few  fathoms 
above  the  sea,  and  apparently  aiming  at  the  vessel  named. 
The  adventurous  bird,  however,  as  if  disdaining  to  visit  one 
of  inferior  rank,  passed  the  Pinta,  and,  sweeping  up  grandly 
towards  the  admiral,  alighted  on  a  yard  of  the  Santa  Maria. 

"  If  this  be  not  a  certain  sign  of  the  vicinity  of  land," 
said  Columbus,  gravely,  "  it  is  what  is  far  better,  a  sure 
omen  that  God  is  with  us.  He  is  sending  these  encourag 
ing  calls  to  confirm  us  in  our  intention  to  serve  him,  and  to 
persevere  to  the  end.  Never  before,  Martin  Alonzo,  have 
I  seen  a  bird  of  this  species  a  day's  sail  from  the  shore !" 

"  Such  is  my  experience  too,  noble  admiral ;  and,  with 
you,  I  look  upon  this  visit  as  a  most  propitious  omen.  May 
it  not  be  a  hint  to  turn  aside,  and  to  look  farther  in  this 
quarter  ?" 

"  I  accept  it  not  as  such,  but  rather  as  a  motive  to  pro 
ceed.  At  our  return  from  the  Indies  we  may  examine  this 
part  of  the  ocean  with  greater  scrutiny,  though  I  shall  think 
nought  accomplished  until  India  be  fairly  reached,  and 
India  is  still  hundreds  of  leagues  distant.  As  the  time  is 
favourable,  however,  we  will  call  together  our  pilots,  and 
see  how  each  man  placeth  his  vessel  on  the  chart." 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  293 

At  this  suggestion,  all  the  navigators  assemb\ed  on  board 
*fie  Santa  Maria,  and  each  man  made  his  calculations, 
sticking  a  pin  in  the  rude  chart — rude  as  to  accuracy,  but 
beautiful  as  to  execution— that  the  admiral,  with  the  lights 
he  then  possessed,  had  made  of  the  Atlantic  ocean.  Vi 
cente  Yanez,  and  his  companions  of  the  Nina,  placed  their 
pin  most  in  advance,  after  measuring  off  four  hundred  and 
forty  marine  leagues  from  Gomera.  Martin  Alonzo  varied 
a  little  from  this,  setting  his  pin  some  twenty  leagues 
farther  east.  When  it  was  the  turn  of  Columbus,  he  stuck 
a  pin  twenty  leagues  still  short  of  that  of  Martin  Alonzo, 
his  companions  having,  to  all  appearance,  like  less  skilful 
calculators,  thus  much  advanced  ahead  of  their  true  dis 
tance.  It  was  then  determined  what  was  to  be  stated 
to  the  crews,  and  the  pilots  returned  to  their  respective  ves 
sels. 

It  would  seem  that  Columbus  really  believed  he  was  then 
passing  between  islands,  and  his  historian,  Las  Casas,  af 
firms  that  he  was  actually  right  in  his  conjecture ;  but  if 
islands  ever  existed  in  that  part  of  the  ocean,  they  have 
long  since  disappeared;  a  phenomenon  which,  while  it  is 
not  impossible,  can  scarcely  be  deemed  probable.  It  is  said 
that  breakers  have  been  seen,  even  within  the  present  cen 
tury,  in  this  vicinity,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  extensive 
banks  do  exist,  though  Columbus  found  no  bottom  with  two 
hundred  fathoms  of  line.  The  great  collection  of  weeds, 
is  a  fact  authenticated  by  some  of  the  oldest  records  of 
human  investigations,  and  is  most  probably  owing  to  some 
effect  of  the  currents  which  has  a  tendency  to  bring  about 
such  an  end  ;  while  the  birds  must  be  considered  as  strag 
glers  lured  from  their  usual  haunts  by  the  food  that  would  be 
apt  to  be  collected  by  the  union  of  weeds  and  fish.  Aquatic 
birds  can  always  rest  on  the  water,  and  the  animal  that  can 
wing  its  way  through  the  air  at  the  rate  of  thirty  or  even 
fifty  miles  the  hour,  needs  only  sufficient  strength,  to  cross 
the  entire  Atlantic  in  four  days  and  nights. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  cheering  signs,  the  different 
crews  soon  began  to  feel  again  the  weight  of  a  renewed  de 
spondency.  Sancho,  who  was  in  constant  but  secret  com 
munication  with  the  admiral,  kept  the  latter  properly  ad 
vised  of  the  state  of  the  people,  and  reported  that  more 
25  * 


294  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

ftiurmurs  than  usual  prevailed,  the  men  having  passed  again, 
by  the  suddenness  of  the  reaction,  from  the  most  elastic 
hope,  nearly  to  the  verge  of  despair.  This  fact  was  told 
Columbus  just  at  sunset  on  the  evening  of  the  20th,  or  on 
that  of  the  eleventh  day  after  the  fleet  lost  sight  of  land, 
and  while  the  seaman  was  affecting  to  be  busy  on  the  poop, 
where  he  made  most  of  his  communications. 

"  They  compiain,  your  Excellency,"  continued  Sancho, 
"  of  the  smoothness  of  the  water ;  and  they  say  that  when 
the  winds  blow  at  all,  in  these  seas,  they  come  only  from 
the  eastward,  having  no  power  to  blow  from  any  other 
quarter.  The  calms,  they  think,  prove  that  we  are  getting 
into  a  part  of  the  ocean  where  there  is  no  wind ;  and  the 
east  winds,  they  fancy,  are  sent  by  Providence  to  drive 
those  there  who  have  displeased  Heaven  by  a  curiosity  thai 
it  was  never  intended  that  any  who  wear  beards  should 
possess." 

"  Do  thou  encourage  them,  Sancho,  by  reminding  the 
poor  fellows  that  calms  prevail,  at  times,  in  all  seas  ;  and, 
as  for  the  east  winds,  is  it  not  well  known  that  they  blow 
from  off  thaAfrican  shores,  in  low  latitudes,  at  all  seasons 
of  the  year,  following  the  sun  in  his  daily  track  around  the 
earth  ?  I  trust  thou  hast  none  of  this  silly  apprehension  ?" 

"  I  endeavour  to  keep  a  stout  heart,  Senor  Don  Almi- 
rante,  having  no  one  before  me  to  disgrace,"  and  leaving  no 
one  behind  me  to  mourn  over  my  loss.  Still,  I  should  like 
to  hear  a  little  about  the  riches  of  those  distant  lands,  as  I 
find  the  thoughts  of  their  gold  and  precious  stones  have  a 
sort  of  religious  charm  over  my  weakness,  when  I  begin 
to  muse  upon  Moguer  and  its  good  cheer." 

"  Go  to,  knave,  thy  appetite  for  money  is  insatiable  ;  take 
yet  another  dobla,  and  as  thou  gazest  on  it  thou  may'st 
fancy  what  thou  wilt  of  the  coin  of  the  Great  Khan ;  rest 
ing  certain  that  so  great  a  monarch  is  not  without  gold, 
any  more  than  he  is  probably  without  the  disposition  to 
part  with  it,  when  there  is  occasion." 

Sancho  received  his  fee,  and  left  the  poop  to  Columbus 
and  our  hero. 

"  These  ups  and  downs  among  the  knaves,"  said  Luis, 
impatiently,  "  were  best  quelled,  Senor,  by  an  application 
of  the  flat  of  the  sword,  or,  at  need,  of  its  edge." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  295 

"  This  may  not  be,  my  young  friend,  without  at  least  iat 
more  occasion  than  yet  existeth  for  the  severity.  Think 
not  that  I  have  passed  so  many  years  of  my  life  in  solicit 
ing  the  means  to  effect  so  great  a  purpose,  and  have-  got 
this  far  on  my  way,  in  unknown  seas,  with  a  disposition  to 
be  easily  turned  aside  from  my  purpose.  But  God  hath 
not  created  all  alike  ;  neither  hath  he  afforded  equal  chances 
for  knowledge  to  the  peasant  and  the  noble.  I  have  vexed 
my  spirit  too  often,  with  arguments  on  this  very  subject, 
with  the  great  and  learned,  not  to  bear  a  little  with  the  ig 
norance  of  the  vulgar.  Fancy  how  much  fear  would  have 
quickened  the  wits  of  the  sages  of  Salamanca,  had  our 
discussion  been  held  in  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic,  where 
man  never  had  been,  and  whence  no  eyes  but  those  of  logic 
and  science,  could  discover  a  safe  passage." 

"  This  is  most  true,  Seiior  Almirante  ;  and  yet,  methmks 
the  knights  that  were  of  your  antagonists  should  not  have 
been  wholly  unmanned  by  fear.  What  danger  have  we 
hrre  ?  this  is  the  wide  ocean,  it  is  true,  and  we  are  no  doubi 
distant  some  hundreds  of  leagues  from  the  known  islands, 
but  we  are  riot  the  less  safe.  By  San  Pedro !  I  have  seen 
more  lives  lost  in  a  single  onset  of  the  Moors,  than  these 
caravels  could  hold  in  bodies,  and  blood  enough  spilt  to 
float  them  !" 

"  The  dangers  our  people  dread  may  be  less  turbulent 
than  those  of  a  Moorish  fray,  Don  Luis,  but  they  are  nol 
the  less  terrible.  Whore  is  the  spring  that  is  to  furnish 
water  to  the  parched  lip,  when  our  stores  shall  fail,  and 
where  the  field  to  give  us  its  bread  and  nourishment?  It  is 
a  fearful  thing  to  be  brought  down  to  the  dregs  of  life,  by 
the  failure  of  food  and  water,  on  the  surface  of  the  wide 
ocean,  dying  by  inches,  often  without  the  consolations  of 
the  church,  and  ever  without  Christian  sepulture.  These 
are  the  fancies  of  the  seaman,  and  he  is  only  to  be  driven 
from  them  violently  when  duty  demands  extreme  remedies 
for  his  disease." 

"  To  me  it  seemeth,  Don  Christopher,  that  it  will  be  time 
10  reason  thus,  when  our  casks  are  drained,  and  the  last 
biscuit  is  broken.  Until  then,  I  ask  leave  of  your  Excel 
lency  to  apply  the  necessary  logic  to  the  outside  of  the 


296  MEK  CEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

heads  of  these  varlets,  instead  of  their  insides,  of  which  1 
much  question  the  capacity  to  hold  any  good." 

Columbus  too  well  understood  the  hot  nature  of  the 
jfoung  noble  to  make  a  serious  reply ;  and  they  both  stood 
sometime  leaning  against  the  mizen-mast,  watching  the 
scene  before  them,  and  musing  on  the  chances  of  their 
situation.  It  was  night,  and  the  figures  of  the  watch,  on  the 
deck  beneath,  were  visible  only  by  a  light  that  rendered  it 
difficult  to  distinguish  countenances.  The  men  were 
grouped ;  and  it  was  evident  by  the  low  but  eager  tones 
in  which  they  conversed,  that  they  discussed  matters  con 
nected  with  the  calm,  and  the  risks  they  ran.  The  outlines  of 
the  Pinta  and  Nina  were  visible,  beneath  a  firmament  that 
was  studded  with  brilliants,  their  lazy  sails  hanging  in  fes 
toons,  like  the  drapery  of  curtains,  and  their  black  hulls  were 
as  stationary,  as  if  they  both  lay  moored  in  one  of  the  rivers 
of  Spain.  It  was  a  bland  and  gentle  night,  but  the  immen 
sity  of  the  solitude,  the  deep  calm  of  the  slumbering  ocean, 
and  even  the  occasional  creaking  of  a  spar,  by  recalling  to 
the  mind  the  actual  presence  of  vessels  so  situated,  ren 
dered  the  scene  solemn,  almost  to  sublimity. 

"Dost  thou  detect  aught  fluttering  in  the  rigging,  Luis?" 
the  admiral  cautiously  inquired.  "  My  ear  deceiveth  me, 
or  I  hear  something  on  the  wing.  The  sounds,  moreover, 
are  quick  and  slight,  like  those  produced  by  birds  of  indif 
ferent  size." 

"  Don  Christopher,  you  are  right.  There  are  little  crea 
tures  perched  on  the  upper  yards,  and  that  of  a  size  like  the 
smaller  songsters  of  the  land." 

"  Hark  !"  interrupted  the  admiral.  "  That  is  a  joyous 
note,  and  of  such  a  melody  as  might  be  met  in  one  of  tho 
orange  groves  of  Seville,  itself!  God  be  praised  for  this 
sign  of  the  extent  and  unity  of  his  kingdom,  since  land 
cannot  well  be  distant,  when  creatures,  gentle  and  frail  as 
these,  have  so  lately  taken  their  flight  from  it !" 

The  presence  of  these  birds  soon  became  known  to  all 
on  deck,  and  their  songs  brought  more  comfort  than  the 
most  able  mathematical  demonstration,  even  though  founded 
on  modern  learning,  could  have  produced  on  the  sensitive 
feelings  of  the  common  men. 

"  I  told  thee,  land  was  near,"  cried  Sancho,  turning  with 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  297 

exultation  to  Martin  Martinez,  his  constant  disputant;  — 
"  here  thou  hast  the  proof  of  it,  in  a  manner  that  none  but 
the  traitor  will  deny.  Thou  hearest  the  songs  of  orchard 
birds — notes  that  would  never  come  from  the  throats  of  the 
tired ;  and  which  sound  as  gaily  as  if  the  dear  little  fea« 
thered  rogues  were  pecking  at  a  fig  or  a  grape  in  a  field  of 
Spain. 

"  Sancho  is  right !"  exclaimed  the  seamen.     "  The  air 
savours  of  land,  too — and  the  sea  hath  a  look  of  the  land  ; 
and  God  is  with  us — blessed  be  his  Holy  name — and  ho 
nour  to  our  lord  the  king,  and  to  our  gracious  mistress, 
Dona  Isabella !" 

From  this  moment  concern  seemed  to  leave  the  vessel, 
again.  It  was  thought,  even  by  the  admiral  himself,  that 
the  presence  of  birds  so  small,  and  which  were  judged  to 
be  so  feeble  of  wing,  was  an  unerring  evidence  that  land 
was  nigh  ;  and  land,  too,  of  generous  productions,  and  a 
mild,  gentle  climate ;  for  these  warblers,  like  the  softer  sex 
of  the  human  family,  best  love  scenes  that  most  favour 
their  gentle  propensities  and  delicate  habits. 

Investigation  has  since  proved,  that,  in  this  particular, 
however  plausible  the  grounds  of  error,  Columbus  was  de 
ceived.  Men  often  mistake  the  powers  of  the  inferior  ani 
mals  of  creation,  and  at  other  times  they  overrate  the  ex 
tent  of  their  instinct.  In  point  of  fact,  a  bird  of  light  weight 
would  be  less  liable  to  perish  on  the  ocean,  and  in  that  low 
latitude,  than  a  bird  of  more  size,  neither  being  aquatic. 
The  sea-weed  itself  would  furnish  resting-places  out  of  num- 
oer  for  the  smaller  animals,  and  in  some  instances  it  would 
probably  furnish  food.  That  birds,  purely  of  the  land, 
should  take  long  flights  at  sea,  is  certainly  improbable 
but,  apart  from  the  consequence  of  gales,  which  often  force 
even  that  heavy-winged  animal  the  owl,  hundreds  of  miles 
from  the  land,  instinct  is  not  infallible  ;  whales  being  fre 
quently  found  embayed  in  shallow  waters,  and  birds  sailing 
beyond  the  just  limits  of  their  habits.  Whatever  may  have 
been  the  cause  of  the  opportune  appearance  of  these  little 
inhabitants  of  the  orchard,  on  the  spars  of  the  Santa  Maria 
the  effect  was  of  the  most  auspicious  kind  on  the  spirits  of 
the  men.  As  long  as  they  sang,  no  amateurs  ever  listened 
to  the  most  brilliant  passages  from  the  orchestra,  with 


298  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

greater  delight  than  those  rude  seamen  listened  to  their 
warbling,  and  while  they  slept  it  was  with  a  security  that 
had  its  existence  in  veneration  and  gratitude.  The  songs 
were  renewed  with  the  dawn,  shortly  after  which  the  whole 
went  off  in  a  body,  taking  their  flight  towards  the  south 
west.  The  next  day  brought  a  calm,  and  then  an  air  so 
light,  that  the  vessels  could  with  difficulty  make  their  way 
through  the  dense  masses  of  weeds  that  actually  gave  the 
ocean  the  appearance  of  vast  inundated  meadows.  The 
current  was  now  found  to  be  from  the  west,  and  shortly 
after  clay -light  a  new  source  of  alarm  was  reported  by 
Sancho. 

"  The  people  have  got  a  notion  in  their  heads,  Sefior  Al- 
mirante,  which  partaketh  so  much  of  the  marvellous,  that  ii 
findeth  exceeding  favour  with  such  as  love  miracles  more 
than  they  love  God.  Martin  Martinez,  who  is  a  philoso 
pher  in  the  way  of  terror,  maintaineth  that  this  sea  into 
which  we  seem  to  be  entering  deeper  and  deeper,  lieth  over 
sunken  islands,  and  that  the  weeds,  which  it  would  be 
idle  to  deny  grow  more  abundant  as  we  proceed,  will 
shortly  get  to  be  so  plentiful  on  the  surface  of  the  water 
that  the  caravels  will  become  unable  to  advance,  or  to  re 
treat." 

"Doth  Martin  find  any  to  believe  this  silly  notion?" 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,  he  doth  ;  and  for  the  plain  reason 
that  it  is  easier  to  find  those  who  are  ready  to  believe  an 
absurdity,  than  to  find  those  who  will  only  believe  truth 
But  the  man  is  backed  by  some  unlucky  chances,  that  must 
come  of  the  Powers  of  Darkness,  more  particularly  as  they 
can  have  no  great  wish  to  see  your  Excellency  reach  Ca 
thay,  with  the  intention  of  making  a  Christian  of  the  Great 
Khan,  and  of  planting  the  tree  of  the  cross  in  his  dominions. 
This  calm  sorely  troubleth  many,  moreover,  and  the  birds 
are  beginning  to  be  looked  upon  as  creatures  sent  by  Satan 
himself,  to  lead  us  whither  we  can  never  return.  Some 
even  believe  we  shall  tread  on  shoals,  and  lie  for  ever 
stranded  wrecks  in  the  midst  of  the  wide  ocean !" 

"  Go  bid  the  men  prepare  to  sound ;  I  will  show  them  the 
folly  of  this  idea,  at  least;  and  see  that  all  are  summoned 
to  witness  the  experiment." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  299 

Columbus  now  repeated  this  order  to  the  pilots,  and  the 
deep-sea  was  let  go,  in  the  usual  manner.  Fathom  after 
fathom  of  the  line  glided  over  the  rail,  the  lead  taking  its 
unerring  way  towards  the  bottom,  until  so  little  was  left  as 
to  compel  the  downward  course  to  be  arrested. 

"  Ye  see,  my  friends,  that  we  are  yet  full  two  hundred 
fathoms  from  the  shoals  ye  so  much  dread,  and  as  much 
more  as  the  sea  is  deeper  than  our  measurement.  Lo ! 
yonder,  too,  is  a  whale,  spouting  the  water  before  him,  a 
creature  never  seen  except  on  the  coasts  of  large  islands, 
or  continents." 

This  appeal  of  Columbus,  which  was  in  conformity  with 
the  notions  of  the  day,  had  its  weight — his  crew  being 
naturally  most  under  the  influence  of  notions  that  were 
popular.  It  is  now  known,  however,  that  whales  frequent 
those  parts  of  the  ocean  where  their  food  is  most  abundant, 
and  one  of  the  best  grounds  for  taking  them,  of  late  years, 
has  been  what  is  called  the  False  Brazil  Banks,  which 
lie  near  the  centre  of  the  ocean.  In  a  word,  all  those  signs, 
that  were  connected  with  the  movements  of  birds  and  fishes, 
and  which  appear  to  have  had  so  much  effect,  not  only  on 
the  common  men  of  this  great  enterprise,  but  on  Columbus 
himself,  were  of  far  less  real  importance  than  was  then  be 
lieved  ;  navigators  being  so  little  accustomed  to  venture  far 
from  the  land  themselves,  that  they  were  not  duly  acquaint 
ed  with  the  mysteries  of  the  open  ocean. 

Notwithstanding  the  moments  of  cheerfulness  and  hope 
that  intervened,  distrust  and  apprehension  were  fast  getting 
to  be  again  the  prevailing  feelings  among  the  mariners. 
Those  who  had  been  most  disaffected  from  the  first,  seized 
every  occasion  to  increase  these  apprehensions ;  and  when 
the  sun  arose,  Saturday,  September  22d,  on  a  calm  sea, 
there  were  not  a  few  in  the  vessels  who  were  disposed  to 
unite  in  making  another  demand  on  the  admiral  to  turn  the 
heads  of  the  caravels  towards  the  east. 

"  We  have  come  some  hundreds  of  leagues  before  a  fair 
wind,  into  a  sea  that  is  entirely  unknown  to  man,  until  we 
have  reached  a  part  of  the  ocean  where  the  winds  seem 
altogether  to  fail  us,  and  where  there  is  danger  of  our  being 
bound  up  in  immovable  weeds,  or  stranded  on  sunken 
islands,  without  the  means  of  procuring  food  or  water !" 


300  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Arguments  like  these,  were  suited  to  an  age  in  which 
even  the  most  learned  were  obliged  to  grope  their  way  to 
accurate  knowledge,  through  the  mists  of  superstition  and 
ignorance,  and  in  which  it  was  a  prevailing  weakness  lo 
put  faith,  on  the  one  hand,  in  visible  proofs  of  the  miracu 
lous  power  of  God,  and,  on  the  other,  in  substantial  evi 
dences  of  the  ascendency  of  evil  spirits,  as  they  were  per 
mitted  to  affect  the  temporal  affairs  of  those  they  perse 
cuted. 

It  was,  therefore,  most  fortunate  for  the  success  of  the 
expedition,  that  a  light  breeze  sprang  up  from  the  south 
ward  and  westward,  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  just  men 
tioned,  enabling  the  vessels  to  gather  way,  and  to  move 
beyond  the  vast  fields  of  weeds,  that  equally  obstructed  the 
progress  of  the  caravels,  and  awakened  the  fears  of  theii 
people.  As  it  was  an  object  to  get  clear  of  the  floating 
obstacles  that  surrounded  the  vessels,  the  first  large  open 
ing  that  offered  was  entered,  and  then  the  fleet  was  brought 
close  upon  a  wind,  heading  as  near  as  possible  to  the  desired 
course.  Columbus  now  believed  himself  to  be  steering 
west-north-west,  when,  in  fact,  he  was  sailing  in  a  direction 
far  nearer  to  his  true  course,  than  when  his  ships  headed 
west,  by  compass ;  the  departure  from  the  desired  line  of 
sailing,  being  owing  to  the  variation  in  the  needle.  This 
circumstance  alone,  would  seem  to  establish  the  fact,  that 
Columbus  believed  in  his  own  theory  of  the  moving  star, 
since  he  would  hardly  have  steered  west-and-by-south-half- 
south,  with  a  fair  wind,  for  many  days  in  succession,  as  he 
is  known  to  have  done,  when  it  was  his  strongest  wish  to 
proceed  directly  west.  He  was  now  heading  up,  within 
half  a  point  of  the  latter  course,  though  he  and  all  with 
him,  fancied  they  were  running  off  nearly  two  points  to 
leeward  of  the  so  much  desired  direction. 

But  these  little  variations  were  trifles  as  compared  with 
the  advantage  that  the  admiral  obtained  over  the  fears  of 
his  followers  by  the  shift  of  the  wind,  and  the  liberation 
from  the  weeds.  By  the  first,  the  men  saw  a  proof  that 
the  breezes  did  not  always  blow  from  the  same  quarter  ; 
and  by  the  last,  they  ascertained  that  they  had  not  actually 
reached  a  point  where  the  ocean  had  become  impassable. 
Although  the  wind  was  now  favourable  to  return  to  thf: 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  301 

Canaries,  no  one  any  longer  demanded  that  such  a  course 
should  be  adopted,  so  apt  are  we  all  to  desire  that  which 
appears  to  be  denied  to  us,  and  so  ready  to  despise  that 
which  lies  perfectly  at  our  disposal. 

This,  indeed,  was  a  moment  when  the  feelings  of  the 
people  appeared  to  be  as  variable  as  the  light  and  baffling 
winds  themselves.  The  Saturday  passed  away,  in  the 
manner  just  mentioned,  the  vessels  once  more  entering  into 
large  fields  of  weeds,  just  as  the  sun  set.  When  the  light 
returned,  the  airs  headed  them  off  to  north-west  and  north- 
west-by-north,  by  compass,  which  was,  in  truth,  steer 
ing  north-west-by-west-half-west,  and  north-west-half-west. 
Birds  abounded  again,  among  which  were  a  turtle-dove,  and 
many  living  crabs  were  seen  crawling  among  the  weeds. 
All  these  signs  would  have  encouraged  the  common  men, 
had  they  not  already  so  often  proved  deceptive. 

"  Senor,"  said  Martin  Martinez,  to  the  admiral,  when 
Columbus  went  among  the  crew  to  raise  their  drooping 
spirits,  "  we  know  not  what  to  think !  For  days,  did  the 
wind  blow  in  the  same  direction,  leading  us  on,  as  it  might 
be,  to  our  ruin  ;  and  then  it  hath  deserted  us  in  such  a  sea, 
as  mariners  in  the  Santa  Maria  never  before  saw.  A  sea, 
looking  like  meadows  on  a  river  side,  and  which  wanteth 
only  kine  and  cow-herds,  to  be  mistaken  for  fields  a  little 
overflowed  by  a  rise  of  the  water,  is  a  fearful  thing !" 

"  Thy  meadows  are  the  weeds  of  the  ocean,  and  prove 
the  richness  of  the  nature  that  hath  produced  them  ;  while 
thy  breezes  from  the  east,  are  what  all  who  have  ever  made 
the  Guinea  voyage,  well  know  to  exist  in  latitudes  so  low. 
I  see  nought  in  either  to  alarm  a  bold  seaman ;  and  as  for 
the  bottom,  ye  all  know  it  hath  not  yet  been  found  by  many 
a  long  and  weary  fathom  of  line.  Pepe,  thou  hast  none 
of  these  weaknesses ;  but  hast  set  thy  heart  on  Cathay 
and  a  sight  of  the  Great  Khan  ]" 

"  Senor  Almirante,  as  I  swore  to  Monica,  so  do  I  swear 
to  your  Excellency ;  and  that  is  to  be  true  and  obedient. 
If  the  cross  is  to  be  raised  among  the  infidels,  my  hand 
shall  not  be  backward  in  doing  its  share  towards  the  holy 
act.  Still,  Senor,  none  of  us  like  this  long  unnatural 
calm.  Here  is  an  ocean  that  hath  no  waves,  but  a  surface 
so  smooth  that  we  much  distrust  whether  the  waters  obey 
26 


302  MEK CEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  same  laws,  as  they  are  known  to  do  near  Spain  ;  for 
never  before  have  I  beheld  a  sea  that  hath  so  much  the  air 
of  the  dead  !  May  it  not  be,  Sefior,  that  God  hath  placed 
a  belt  of  this  calm  and  stagnant  water  around  the  outer 
edges  of  the  earth,  in  order  to  prevent  the  unheedy  from 
looking  into  some  of  his  sacred  secrets  ?" 

"  Thy  reasoning  hath,  at  least,  a  savour  of  religion  ;  and, 
though  faulty,  can  scarce  be  condemned.  God  hath  placed 
man  on  this  earth,  Pepe,  to  be  its  master,  and  to  serve  him 
bv  extending  the  dominion  of  his  church,  as  well  as  by 
turning  to  the  best  account  all  the  numberless  blessings  that 
accompany  the  great  gift.  As  to  the  limits,  of  which  thou 
speakest,  they  exist  only  in  idea,  the  earth  being  a  sphere, 
or  a  ball,  to  which  there  are  no  other  edges  than  those  thou 
secst  everywhere  on  its  surface." 

"  And  as  for  what  Martin  saith,"  put  in  Sancho,  who 
was  never  at  fault  for  a  fact,  or  for  a  reason,  "  concerning 
the  winds,  and  the  weeds,  and  the  calms,  I  can  only  won 
der  where  a  seaman  of  his  years  hath  been  navigating  so 
long,  that  these  things  should  be  novelties.  To  me,  all  this 
is  as  common  as  dish-water  at  Moguer,  and  so  much  a  mat 
ter  of  course,  that  I  should  not  have  remarked  it,  but  for 
the  whinings  of  Martin  and  his  fellows.  When  the  Santa 
Catalina  made  the  voyage  to  that  far-off  region,  Ireland, 
we  landed  on  the  sea- weed,  a  distance  of  half  a  league  or 
so  from  the  coast ;  and  as  for  the  wind,  it  blew  regularly 
four  weeks  from  one  quarter,  and  four  weeks  from  the 
other ;  after  which  the  people  of  the  country  said  it  would 
blow  four  weeks  each  way,  transversely  ;  but  we  did  not 
remain  long  enough  in  those  seas  to  enable  me  to  swear  to 
the  two  last  facts." 

"  Hast  thou  not  heard  of  shoals  so  wide  that  a  caravel 
could  never  find  its  way  out  of  them,  if  it  once  entered  ?" 
demanded  Martinez,  fiercely,  for  much  addicted  to  gross 
exaggerations  hin?self,  he  little  liked  to  be  outdone ;  "  and 
do  not  these  weeds  bespeak  our  near  approach  to  such  a 
danger,  when  the  weeds  themselves  often  are  so  closely 
packed  as  to  come  near  to  stop  the  ship  ?" 

'  Enough  of  this,"  said  the  admiral ;  "  at  times  we  have 
weeds,  and  then  we  are  altogether  free  from  them  ;  these 
changes  are  owing  to  the  currents ;  no  doubt  as  soon  as  we 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  303 

have  passed  this  meridian,  we  shall  come  to  clear  wa*er 
again." 

"  But  the  calm,  Sefior  Almirante,"  exclaimed  a  dozen 
voices.  "  This  unnatural  smoothness  of  the  ocean  f'right- 
eneth  us  !  —  never  before  did  we  see  water  so  stagnant  and 
immoveable !" 

"  Call  ye  this  stagnant  and  immovGable  ?"  exclaimed  the 
admiral.  "  Nature  herself  arises  to  reproach  your  sense 
less  fears,  and  to  contradict  your  mistaken  reasoning,  by 
her  own  signs  and  portents !" 

This  was  said  as  the  Santa  Maria's  bows  rose  on  a  long 
low  swell,  every  spar  creaking  at  the  motion,  and  the 
whole  hull  heaving  and  setting  as  the  billow  passed  beneath 
it,  washing  the  sides  of  the  ship  from  the  water-line  to  its 
channels.  At  this  moment  there  was  not  even  a  breath  of 
air,  and  the  seamen  gazed  about  them  with  an  astonish 
ment  that  was  inoreased  and  rendered  extreme  by  dread. 
The  ship  had  scarcely  settled  heavily  into  the  long  trough, 
when  a  second  wave  lifted  her  again  forward,  and  billow  suc 
ceeded  billow,  each  successive  wave  increasing  in  height, 
until  the  entire  ocean  was  undulating,  though  only  marked 
at  distant  intervals,  and  that  slightly,  by  the  foam  of  crests 
or  combing  seas.  It  took  half  an  hour  to  bring  this  phe 
nomenon  up  to  its  height,  when  all  three  vessels  were  wal 
lowing  in  the  seas,  as  mariners  term  it,  their  hulls  falling 
off  helplessly  into  the  troughs,  until  the  water  fairly  spout 
ed  from  their  low  scuppers,  as  each  rose  by  her  buoyuncy 
from  some  roll  deeper  than  common.  Fancying  that  this 
occurrence  promised  to  be  either  a  source  of  new  alarm,  or 
a  means  of  appeasing  the  old  one,  Columbus  took  early 
measures  to  turn  it  to  account,  in  the  latter  mode.  Causing 
all  the  crew  to  assemble  at  the  break  of  the  poop,  he  ad 
dressed  them,  briefly,  in  tha  following  words  : 

"  Ye  see,  men,  that  your  late  fears  about  the  stagnant 
ocean  are  rebuked,  in  this  sudden  manner,  as  it  might  be, 
by  the  hand  of  God  himself,  proving,  beyond  dispute,  that 
no  danger  is  to  be  apprehended  from  that  source.  I  might 
impose  on  your  ignorance,  and  insist  that  this  sudden  rising 
of  the  sea  is  a  miracle  wrought  to  sustain  me  against  your 
rebellious  rcpinings  and  unthinking  alarms ;  but  the  cause 
in  which  I  am  engaged  needs  no  support  of  this  nature,  that 


S04  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

doth  not  truly  come  from  heaven.  The  calms,  and  the 
smoothness  of  the  water,  and  even  the  weeds  of  which  ye 
complain,  come  from  the  vicinity  of  some  great  body  of 
land ;  I  think  not  a  continent,  as  that  must  lie  still  farther 
west,  but  of  islands,  either  so  large  or  so  numerous,  as  to 
make  a  far-extended  lee ;  while  these  swells  are  probably 
the  evidence  of  wind  at  a  distance,  which  hath  driven  up 
the  ocean  into  mountainous  waves,  such  as  we  often  see 
them,  and  which  send  out  their  dying  efforts,  even  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  gale.  I  do  not  say  that  this  intervention, 
to  appease  your  fears,  doth  not  come  of  God,  in  whose 
hands  I  am ;  for  this  last  do  I  fully  believe,  and  for  it  am  I 
fully  grateful;  but  itcometh  through  the  agencies  of  nature, 
and  can  in  no  sense  be  deemed  providential,  except  as  it 
demonstrateth  the  continuance  of  the  divine  care,  as  well 
as  its  surpassing  goodness.  Go  then,  and  bo  tranquil. 
Remember  if  Spain  be  far  behind  ye,  that  Cathay  now  lieth 
at  no  great  distance  before  ye  ;  that  each  hour  shorteneth 
that  distance,  as  well  as  the  time  necessary  to  reach  our 
goal.  Ho  that  remaineth  true  and  faithful,  shall  not  repent 
his  confidence;  while  he  who  unnecessarily  disturbeth 
either  himself  or  others,  with  silly  doubts,  may  look  for- 
ward  to  an  exercise  of  authority  that  shall  maintain  the 
rights  of  their  Highnesses  to  the  duty  of  all  their  servants." 
We  record  this  speech  of  the  great  navigator  with  so 
much  the  more  pleasure,  as  it  goes  fully  to  establish  the 
tact  that  he  did  not  believe  the  sudden  rising  of  the  seas,  on 
this  occasion,  was  owing  to  a  direct  miracle,  as  some  of  the 
historians  and  biographers  seem  inclined  to  believe;  but 
rather  to  a  providential  interference  of  Divine  Power, 
through  natural  means,  in  order  to  protect  him  against  the 
consequences  of  the  blind  apprehensions  of  his  followers, 
It  is  not  easy,  indeed,  to  suppose,  that  a  seaman  as  expe 
rienced  as  Columbus,  could  be  ignorant  of  the  natural 
cause  of  a  circumstance  so  very  common  on  the  ocean, 
that  those  who  dwell  on  its  coasts  have  frequent  occa 
sion  to  witness  its  occurrence. 


MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE.  305 


CHAPTER  XX. 

" '  Ora  pro  nobis,  Mater  /' — what  a  spell 

Was  in  those  notes,  with  day's  last  glory  dying 
On  the  flush 'd  waters — seem'd  they  not  to  swell 
From  the  far  dust,  wherein  my  sires  were  lying 
"With  crucifix  and  sword  ? — Oh  I  yet  how  clear 
Comes  their  reproachful  sweetness  to  my  ear  I 
4  Ora' — with  all  the  purple  waves  replying, 
All  my  youth's  visions  rising  in  the  strain — • 
And  I  had  thought  it  much  to  bear  the  rack  and  chain !" 

The  Forest  Sa/rtctuary. 

IT  may  now  be  well  to  recapitulate,  and  to  let  the  reader 
distinctly  know  how  far  the  adventurers  had  actually  ad 
vanced  into  the  unknown  waters  of  the  Atlantic ;  what  was 
their  real,  and  what  their  supposed  position.  As  has  bean 
seen,  from  the  time  of  quitting  Gomera,  the  admiral  kept 
two  reckonings,  one  intended  for  his  own  government, 
which  came  as  near  the  truth  as  the  imperfect  means  of 
the  science  of  navigation  that  were  then  in  use  would 
allow,  and  another  that  was  freely  exhibited  to  the  crew, 
and  was  purposely  miscalculated  in  order  to  prevent  alarm, 
on  account  of  the  distance  that  had  been  passed.  As  Co 
lumbus  believed  himself  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of 
God,  this  act  of  deception  would  be  thought  a  species  of 
pious  fraud,  in  that  devout  age ;  and  it  is  by  no  means  pro 
bable,  that  it  gave  the  conscience  of  the  navigator  any 
trouble,  since  churchmen,  even,  did  not  hesitate  always 
about  buttressing  the  walls  of  faith  by  means  still  less 
justifiable. 

The  long  calms  and  light  head- winds  had  prevented  the 
vessels  from  making  much  progress  for  the  few  last  days  ; 
and,  by  estimating  the  distance  that  was  subsequently  run 
in  a  course  but  a  little  south  of  west,  it  appears,  notwith 
standing  all  the  encouraging  signs  of  birds,  fishes,  calms, 
and  smooth  water,  that  on  the  morning  of  Monday,  Sep 
tember  24th,  or  that  of  the  fifteenth  day  after  losing  sight 
of  Ferro,  the  expedition  was  about  half-way  across  the 
Atlantic,  counting  from  continent  to  continent,  on  the 
26* 


306  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

parallel  of  about  31  or  32  degrees  of  north  latitude.  The 
circumstance  of  the  vessels  being  so  far  north  of  the 
Canaries,  when  it  is  known  that  they  had  been  running 
most  of  the  time  west,  a  little  southerly,  must  be  imputed 
to  the  course  steered  in  the  scant  winds,  and  perhaps  to  the 
general  set  of  the  currents.  With  this  brief  explanation,  we 
return  to  the  daily  progress  of  the  ships. 

The  influence  of  the  trades  was  once  more  felt,  though 
in  a  very  slight  degree,  in  the  course  of  the  twenty-four 
hours  that  succeeded  the  day  of  the  "miraculous  seas," 
and  the  vessels  again  headed  west  by  compass.  Birds 
were  seen  as  usual,  among  which  was  a  pelican.  The 
whole  progress  of  the  vessels  was  less  than  fifty  miles,  a 
distance  that  was  lessened,  as  usual,  in  the  public  reckon 
ing. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  was  calm,  but  the  wind  returned, 
a  steady  gentle  breeze  from  the  south-east,  when  the  day 
was  far  advanced,  the  caravels  passing  most  of  the  hours  of 
light  floating  near  each  other,  in  a  lazy  indolence,  or  barely 
stirring  the  water  with  their  stems,  at  a  rate  little,  if  any, 
exceeding  that  of  a  mile  an  hour. 

The  Pinta  kept  near  the  Santa  Maria,  and  the  officers  and 
crews  of  the  two  vessels  conversed  freely  with  each  other, 
concerning  their  hopes  and  situation.  Columbus  listened 
to  these  dialogues  for  a  long  time,  endeavouring  to  collect 
the  predominant  feeling  from  the  more  guarded  expressions 
that  were  thus  publicly  delivered,  and  watching  each  turn 
of  the  expressions  with  jealous  vigilance.  At  length  it 
struck  him  that  the  occasion  was  favourable  to  producing  a 
good  effect  on  the  spirits  of  his  followers. 

"  What  hast  thou  thought  of  the  chart  I  sent  thee  three 
days  since,  good  Martin  Alonzo,"  called  out  the  admiral : 
"  Dost  thou  see  in  it  aught  to  satisfy  thee  that  we  are  ap 
proaching  the  Indies,  and  that  our  time  of  trial  draweth 
rapidly  to  an  end  ?" 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  admiral's  voice,  every  syllable 
was  hushed  among  the  people ;  for,  in  spite  of  their  dis 
content,  and  their  disposition  even  to  rise  against  him,  in 
their  extremity,  Columbus  had  succeeded  in  creating  a  pro- 
"ound  respect  for  his  judgment  and  his  person  among  all  his 
followers. 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  307 

"  'T  is  a  rare  and  well-designed  chart,  Senor  Don  Chris- 
wopher,"  answered  the  master  of  the  Pinta,  "  and  doth  a 
fair  credit  to  him  who  hath  copied  and  enlarged,  as  well  as 
to  him  who  first  projected  it.  I  doubt  that  it  is  the  work 
of  some  learned  scholar,  that  hath  united  the  opinions  of 
all  the  greater  navigators  in  his  map." 

"  The  original  came  from  one  Paul  Toscanelli,  a  learned 
Tuscan,  who  dwelleth  at  Firenze  in  that  country  ;  a  man  of 
exceeding  knowledge,  and  of  an  industry  in  investigation 
that  putteth  idleness  to  shame.  Accompanying  the  chart 
he  sent  a  missive  that  hath  much  profound  and  learned 
matter  on  the  subject  of  the  Indies,  and  touching  those 
islands  that  thou  seest  laid  down  with  so  much  particu 
larity.  In  that  letter  he  speaketh  of  divers  places,  as  being 
so  many  wonderful  exemplars  of  the  power  of  man  ;  more 
especially  of  the  port  of  Zaiton,  which  sendeth  forth  no 
less  than  a  hundred  ships  yearly,  loaded  with  the  single 
product  of  the  pepper-tree.  He  saith,  moreover,  that  an 
ambassador  came  to  the  Holy  Father,  in  the  time  of  Eu- 
genius  IV.,  of  blessed  memory,  to  express  the  desire  of  the 
Great  Khan,  which  meaneth  King  of  Kings,  in  the  dialect 
of  those  regions,  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Chris 
tians  of  the  west,  as  we  were  then  termed ;  but  of  the 
east,  as  will  shortly  be  our  designation  in  that  part  of  the 
world." 

"  This  is  surprising,  Senor !"  exclaimed  Pinzon  :  "  how 
is  it  known,  or  is  it  known  at  all,  of  a  certainty  ?" 

"  Beyond  a  question ;  since  Paul  stateth,  in  his  missive, 
that  he  saw  much  of  this  same  ambassador,  living  greatly 
in  his  society,  Eugenius  deceasing  as  lately  as  1477.  From 
the  ambassador,  no  doubt  a  wise  and  grave  personage, 
since  no  other  would  have  been  sent  so  far  on  a  mission  to 
the  Head  of  the  Church ; — from  this  discreet  person,  then, 
did  Toscanelli  gain  much  pleasant  information  concerning 
the  populousness  and  vast  extent  of  those  distant  countries, 
the  gorgeousness  of  the  palaces,  and  the  glorious  beauty 
of  the  cities.  He  spoke  of  one  town,  in  particular,  that 
surpasseth  all  others  of  the  known  world  ;  and  of  a  single 
river  that  hath  two  hundred  noble  cities  on  its  own  banks, 
with  marble  bridges  spanning  the  stream.  The  chart  be 
fore  thee,  Martin  Alonzo,  showeth  that  the  exact  distance 


308  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

from  Lisbon  to  the  city  of  Quisay  is  just  three  thousand 
nine  hundred  miles  of  Italy,  or  about  a  thousand  leagues, 
steering  always  in  a  due-west  direction."* 

"And  doth  the  learned  Tuscan  say  aught  of  the  riches  of 
those  countries?"  demanded  Master  Alonzo — a  question 
that  caused  all  within  hearing  to  prick  up  their  ears,  afresh. 

"That  doth  he,  and  in  these  precise  and  impressive 
words — 'This  is  a  noble  country,'  observed  the  learned 
Paul,  in  his  missive,  '  and  ought  to  be  explored  by  us,  on 
account  of  its  great  riches,  and  the  quantity  of  gold,  silver, 
and  precious  stones,  which  might  be  obtained  there.'  He 
moreover  described  Quisay  as  being  five-and-thirty  leagues 
in  circuit,  and  addeth  that  its  name  in  the  Castilian,  is  *  the 
City  of  Heaven.' " 

"  In  which  case,"  muttered  Sancho,  though  in  a  tone  so 
low  that  no  one  but  Pepe  heard  him,  "  there  is  little  need 
of  our  bearing  thither  the  cross,  which  was  intended  for  the 
benefit  of  man,  and  not  of  paradise." 

"  I  see  here  two  large  islands,  Senor  Almirante,"  continued 
Pinzon,  keeping  his  eyes  on  the  chart,  "  one  of  which  is 
called  Antilla,  and  the  other  is  the  Ciparigo  of  which  your 
Excellency  so  often  speaketh." 

"  Even  so,  good  Martin  Alonzo,  and  thou  also  seest  that 
they  are  laid  down  with  a  precision  that  must  prevent  any 
experienced  navigator  from  missing  his  way,  when  in  pur 
suit  of  them.  These  islands  lie  just  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
live  leagues  asunder." 

"  According  to  our  reckoning,  here,  in  the  Pinta,  noble 
Admiral,  we  cannot,  then,  be  far  from  Cipango  at  this  very 
moment." 

"  It  would  so  seem  by  the  reckonings,  though  I  some 
what  doubt  their  justness.  It  is  a  common  error  of  pilots 
to  run  ahead  of  their  reckonings,  but  in  this  instance,  ap 
prehension  hath  brought  ye  behind  them.  Cipango  lieth 
many  days'  sail  from  the  continent  of  Asia,  and  cannot, 
therefore,  be  far  from  this  spot ;  still  the  currents  have  been 


*  NOTE. — It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
stands,  as  near  as  may  be,  in  the  position  that  the  honest  Paul 
Toscanelli  supposed  to  have  been  occupied  by  "  the  famous  city  of 
Quisay." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  309 

adverse,  and  I  doubt  that  it  will  be  found  that  we  are  as 
near  this  island,  good  Martin  Alonzo,  as  thou  and  thy  com 
panions  imagine.  Let  the  chart  be  returned,  and  I  will 
trace  our  actual  position  on  it,  that  all  may  see  what  reason 
there  is  to  despond,  and  what  reason  to  rejoice." 

Pinzon  now  took  the  chart,  rolled  it  together  carefully, 
attached  a  light  weight,  and  securing  the  whole  with  the 
end  of  a  log-line,  he  hove  it  on  board  the  Santa  Maria,  as 
a  seaman  makes  a  cast  with  the  lead.  So  near  were  the 
vessels  at  the  moment,  that  this  communication  was  made 
without  any  difficulty ;  after  which,  the  Pinta,  letting  fall 
an  additional  sail  or  two,  flapped  slowly  ahead,  her  superi 
ority,  particularly  in  light  winds,  being  at  all  times  appa 
rent. 

Columbus  now  caused  the  chart  to  be  spread  over  a  table 
on  the  poop,  and  invited  all  who  chose  to  draw  near,  in 
order  that  they  might,  with  their  own  eyes,  see  the  precise 
spot  on  the  ocean  where  the  admiral  supposed  the  vessels 
to  be.  As  each  day's  work  was  accurately  laid  down,  and 
measured  on  the  chart,  by  one  as  expert  as  the  great  navi 
gator  himself,  there  is  little  question  that  he  succeeded  in 
showing  his  people,  as  near  as  might  be,  and  subject  to  the 
deduction  in  distance  that  was  intentionally  made,  the  lon 
gitude  and  latitude  to  which  the  expedition  had  then  reach 
ed  ;  and  as  this  brought  them  quite  near  those  islands  which 
were  believed  to  lie  east  of  the  continent  of  Asia,  this  tang 
ible  proof  of  their  progress  had  far  more  effect  than  any 
demonstration  that  depended  on  abstract  reasoning,  even 
when  grounded  on  premises  that  were  true ;  most  men  sub 
mitting  sooner  to  the  authority  of  the  senses,  than  to  the 
influence  of  the  mere  mind.  The  seamen  did  not  stop  to 
inquire  how  it  was  settled  that  Cipango  lay  in  the  precise 
place  where  it  had  been  projected  on  this  famous  chart,  but 
seeing  it  there,  in  black  and  white,  they  were  disposed  to 
believe  it  was  really  in  the  spot  it  appeared  to  be  ;  and,  as 
Columbia's  reputation  for  keeping  a  ship's  reckoning  far 
surpassed  that  of  any  other  navigator  in  the  fleet,  the  facts 
were  held  to  be  established.  Great  was  the  joy,  in  conse 
quence  ;  and  the  minds  of  the  people  again  passed  from  the 
verge  of  despair  to  an  excess  and  illusion  of  hope,  that  was 
raised  only  to  be  disappointed. 


310  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

That  Columbus  was  sincere  in  all  that  related  to  this 
new  delusion,  with  the  exception  of  the  calculated  reduction 
of  the  true  distance,  is  beyond  a  doubt.  In  common  with 
the  cosmographers  of  the  age,  he  believed  the  circumference 
of  the  earth  much  less  than  actual  measurement  has  since 
shown  it  to  be ;  striking  out  of  the  calculation,  at  once, 
nearly  the  whole  breadth  of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  That  this 
conclusion  was  very  natural,  will  be  seen  by  glancing  at  the 
geographical  facts  that  the  learned  then  possessed,  as  data 
for  their  theories. 

It  was  known  that  the  continent  of  Asia  was  bounded  on 
the  east  by  a  vast  ocean,  and  that  a  similar  body  of  water 
bounded  Europe  on  the  west,  leaving  the  plausible  inference, 
on  the  supposition  that  the  earth  was  a  sphere,  that  nothing 
but  islands  existed  between  these  two  great  boundaries  of 
land.  Less  than  half  of  the  real  circumference  of  the  globe 
is  to  be  found  between  the  western  and  eastern  verges  of 
the  old  continent,  as  they  were  then  known ;  but  it  was  too 
bold  an  effort  of  the  mind,  to  conceive  that  startling  fact,  in 
the  condition  of  human  knowledge  at  the  close  of  the  fif 
teenth  century.  The  theories  were  consequently  content 
with  drawing  the  limits  of  the  east  and  the  west  into  a  much 
narrower  circle,  finding  no  data  for  any  freer  speculation ; 
and  believing  it  a  sufficient  act  of  boldness  to  maintain  the 
spherical  formation  of  the  earth  at  all.  It  is  true,  that  the 
latter  theory  was  as  old  as  Ptolemy,  and  quite  probably 
much  older ;  but  even  the  antiquity  of  a  system  begins  to 
be  an  argument  against  it,  in  the  minds  of  the  vulgar,  when 
centuries  elapse,  and  it  receives  no  confirmation  from  actual 
experiment.  Columbus  supposed  his  island  of  Cipango,  or 
Japan,  to  lie  about  one  hundred  and  forty  degrees  of  lon 
gitude  east  of  its  actual  position ;  and,  as  a  degree  of  longi 
tude  in  the  latitude  of  Japan,  or  35°  north,  supposing  the 
surface  of  the  earth  to  be  perfectly  spherical,  is  about  fifty- 
six  statute  miles,  it  follows  that  Columbus  had  advanced 
this  island,  on  his  chart,  more  than  seven  thousand  English 
miles  towards  the  eastward,  or  a  distance  materially  exceed 
ing  two  thousand  marine  leagues. 

All  this,  however,  was  not  only  hidden  in  mystery  as  re 
gards  the  common  men  of  the  expedition,  but  it  far  out 
stripped  the  boldest  conceptions  of  the  great  navigator  him- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  311 

self.  Facts  of  this  nature,  notwithstanding,  are  far  from 
detracting  from  the  glory  of  the  vast  discoveries  that  were 
subsequently  made,  since  they  prove  under  what  moral  dis 
advantages  the  expedition  was  conceived,  and  under  what  a 
limited  degree  of  knowledge  it  finally  triumphed. 

While  Columbus  was  thus  employed  with  the  chart,  it 
was  a  curious  thing  to  witness  the  manner  in  which  the 
seamen  watched  his  smallest  movement,  studied  the  expres 
sion  of  his  grave  and  composed  countenance,  and  sought 
to  read  their  fate  in  the  contraction,  or  dilation,  of  his  eyes. 
The  gentlemen  of  the  Santa  Maria,  and  the  pilots,  stood  at 
his  elbow,  and  here  and  there  some  old  mariner  ventured 
to  take  his  post  at  hand,  where  he  could  follow  the  slow 
progress  of  the  pen,  or  note  the  explanation  of  a  figure. 
Among  these  was  Sancho,  who  was  generally  admitted  to 
be  one  of  the  most  expert  seamen  in  the  little  fleet,  in  all 
things,  at  least,  that  did  not  require  the  knowledge  of  the 
schools.  Columbus  even  turned  to  these  men,  and  spoke 
to  them  kindly,  endeavouring  to  make  them  comprehend  a 
part  of  their  calling,  which  they  saw  practised  daily,  with 
out  ever  succeeding  in  acquiring  a  practical  acquaintance 
with  it,  pointing  out  particularly  the  distance  come,  and 
that  which  yet  remained  before  them.  Others,  again,  the 
less  experienced,  but  not  the  less  interested  among  the  crew, 
hung  about  the  rigging,  whence  they  could  overlook  the 
scene,  and  fancy  they  beheld  demonstrations  that  came  of 
theories  which  it  as  much  exceeded  their  reasoning  powers 
to  understand,  as  it  exceeded  their  physical  vision  to  behold 
the  desired  Indies  themselves.  As  men  become  intellectual, 
they  entertain  abstractions,  leaving  the  dominion  of  the 
senses  to  take  refuge  in  that  of  thought.  Until  this  change 
arrives,  however,  we  are  all  singularly  influenced  by  a  parade 
of  positive  things.  Words  spoken  seldom  produce  the  ef 
fect  of  words  written  ;  and  the  praise  or  censure  that  would 
enter  lightly  and  unheeded  into  the  ear,  might  even  change 
our  estimates  of  character,  when  received  into  the  mind 
through  the  medium  of  the  eye.  Thus,  the  very  seamen, 
who  could  not  comprehend  the  reasoning  of  Columbus, 
fancied  they  understood  his  chart,  and  willingly  enough 
believed  that  islands  and  continents  must  exist  in  the  pre 
cise  places  where  they  saw  them  so  plainly  delineated. 


312  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

After  this  exhibition,  cheerfulness  resumed  its  sway 
over  the  crew  of  the  Santa  Maria ;  and  Sancho,  who  was 
generally  considered  as  of  the  party  of  the  admiral,  was 
eagerly  appealed  to  by  his  fellows,  for  many  of  the  little 
circumstances  that  were  thought  to  explain  the  features  of 
the  chart. 

"  Dost  think,  Sancho,  that  Cipango  is  as  large  as  the 
admiral  hath  got  the  island  on  the  chart  ?"  asked  one  who 
had  passed  from  the  verge  of  despair  to  the  other  extreme ; 
"  that  it  lieth  fairly,  any  eye  may  see,  since  its  look  is  as 
natural  as  that  of  Ferro  or  Madeira." 

"  That  hath  he,"  answered  Sancho,  positively,  "  as  one 
may  see  by  its  shape.  Didst  not  notice  the  capes,  and 
bays,  and  head-lands,  all  laid  down  as  plainly  as  on  any 
other  well-known  coast?  Ah!  these  Genoese  are  skilful 
navigators ;  and  Senor  Colon,  our  noble  admiral,  hath  not 
come  all  this  distance  without  having  some  notion  in  what 
roadstead  he  is  to  anchor." 

In  such  conclusive  arguments,  the  dullest  minds  of  the 
crew  found  exceeding  consolation ;  whilst  among  all  the 
common  people  of  the  ship,  there  was  not  one  who  did  not 
feel  more  confidence  in  the  happy  termination  of  the  voy 
age,  since  he  had  this  seeming  ocular  proof  of  the  existence 
of  land  in  the  part  of  the  ocean  they  were  in. 

When  the  discourse  between  the  admiral  and  Pinzon 
ceased,  the  latter  made  sail  on  the  Pinta,  which  vessel 
had  slowly  passed  the  Santa  Maria,  and  was  now  a  hun 
dred  yards,  or  more,  ahead  of  her ;  neither  going  through 
the  water  at  a  rate  exceeding  a  knot  an  hour.  At  the  mo 
ment  just  mentioned,  or  while  the  men  were  conversing  of 
their  newly  awakened  hopes,  a  shout  drew  all  eyes  towards 
their  consort,  where  Pinzon  was  seen  on  the  poop,  waving 
his  cap  in  exultation,  and  giving  the  usual  proofs  of  extra 
vagant  delight. 

"Land  !— Land!  Senor!"  he  shouted.  "I  claim  my  re 
ward!  Land!  Land!" 

"  In  what  direction,  good  Martin  Alonzo  ?"  asked  Colum 
bus,  so  eagerly  that  his  voice  fairly  trembled.  "  In  which 
quarter  dost  thou  perceive  this  welcome  neighbour  ?"  ^ 

"  Here,  to  the  south-west,"  pointing  in  that  direction — 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  313 

*  a  range  of  dim  but  noble  mountains,  and  such  as  promise 
to  satisfy  the  pious  longings  of  the  Holy  Father  himself!" 

Every  eye  turned  towards  the  south-west,  and  there,  in- 
deed,  they  fancied  they  beheld  the  long-sought  proofs  of 
their  success.  A  faint,  hazy  mass,  was  visible  in  the  ho 
rizon,  broken  in  outline,  more  distinctly  marked  than  clouds 
usually  are,  and  yet  so  obscure  as  to  require  a  practised 
eye  to  draw  it  out  of  the  obscurity  of  '.he  void.  This  is 
the  manner  in  which  land  often  appears  to  seamen,  in  pe 
culiar  conditions  of  the  atmosphere;  ethers,  under  such 
circumstances,  being  seldom  able  to  distinguish  it  at  all. 
Columbus  was  so  practised  in  all  the  phenomena  of  the 
ocean,  that  the  face  of  every  man  in  the  Santa  Maria  was 
turned  towards  his,  in  breathless  expectation  of  the  result, 
as  soon  as  the  first  glance  had  been  given  towards  the 
point  of  the  compass  mentioned.  It  was  impossible  to 
mistake  the  expression  of  the  admiral's  countenance,  which 
immediately  became  radiant  with  delight  and  pious  exulta 
tion.  Uncovering  himself,  he  cast  a  look  upward  in  un 
bounded  gratitude,  and  then  fell  on  his  knees,  to  return 
open  thanks  to  God.  This  was  the  signal  of  triumph,  and 
yet,  in  their  desolate  situation,  exultation  was  not  the 
prevalent  feeling  of  the  moment.  Like  Columbus,  the 
men  felt  their  absolute  dependence  on  God ;  and  a  sense 
of  humble  and  rebuked  gratitude  came  over  every  spirit, 
as  it  might  be  simultaneously.  Kneeling,  the  entire  crews 
of  the  three  vessels  simultaneously  commenced  the  chant 
of  "  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo  !"  lifting  the  voice  of  praise,  for 
Mie  first  time  since  the  foundations  of  the  earth  were  laid, 
»n  that  deep  solitude  of  the  ocean.  Matins  and  vespers,  it 
is  true,  were  then  habitually  repeated  in  most  Christian 
ships ;  but  this  sublime  chant  was  now  uttered  to  waves 
that  had  been  praising  their  Maker,  in  their  might  and  in 
their  calm,  for  so  many  thousand  years,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  voice  of  man. 

"  Glory  be  to  God  on  high!"  sang  these  rude  manners, 
with  hearts  softened  by  their  escapes,  dangers,  and  success, 
speaking  as  one  man,  though  modulating  their  tones  to  the 
solemn  harmony  of  a  religious  rite — "  and  on  earth  peace, 
good  will  towards  men.  We  praise  thee,  we  bless  thee,  we 
worship  thce,  we  glorify  thee,  we  give  thanks  to  thee  for 
27 


314  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

thy  great  glory !    O  Lord  God!  Heavenly  King!  God 
the  Father  Almighty!"  fyc.  £fc. 

In  this  noble  chant,  which  would  seem  to  approach  as 
near  to  the  praises  of  angels  as  human  powers  can  ever 
hope  to  rise,  the  voice  of  the  admiral  was  distinct,  and  deep, 
but  trembling  with  emotion. 

When  this  act  of  pious  gratitude  was  performed,  the  men 
ascended  the  rigging  to  make  more  certain  of  their  success. 
All  agreed  in  pronouncing  the  faintly  delineated  mass  to  be 
land,  and  the  first  sudden  transport  of  unexpected  joy  was 
succeeded  by  the  more  regulated  feelings  of  confirmed  se 
curity.  The  sun  set  a  little  north  of  the  dim  mountains, 
and  night  closed  around  the  scene,  shadowing  the  ocean 
with  as  much  of  gloom  as  is  ever  to  be  found  beneath  a 
tropical  and  cloudless  sky.  As  the  first  watch  was  set, 
Columbus,  who,  whenever  the  winds  would  allow,  had  per 
severed  in  steering  what  he  fancied  to  be  a  due-west  course, 
to  satisfy  the  longings  of  his  people,  ordered  the  vessels  to 
haul  up  to  south-west  by  compass,  which  was  in  fact  head 
ing  south-west  by  south,  southerly.  The  wind  increased, 
and,  as  the  admiral  had  supposed  the  land  to  be  distant 
about  twenty-five  leagues,  when  last  seen,  all  in  the  little 
fleet  confidently  relied  on  obtaining  a  full  and  complete 
view  of  it  in  the  morning.  Columbus  himself  entertained 
this  hope,  though  he  varied  his  course  reluctantly,  feeling 
certain  that  the  continent  would  be  met  by  sailing  west,  or 
what  he  thought  to  be  west,  though  he  could  have  no  simi 
lar  confidence  as  to  making  any  island. 

Few  slept  soundly  that  night,  visions  of  oriental 
riches,  and  of  the  wonders  of  the  East,  crowding  on 
the  minds  of  even  the  least  imaginative,  converting  their 
slumbers  into  dreams  rendered  uneasy  by  longings  for 
gold,  and  anticipations  of  the  wonders  of  the  unknown  East. 
The  men  left  their  hammocks,  from  hour  to  hour,  to  stand 
in  the  rigging,  watching  for  some  new  proofs  of  their  prox 
imity  to  the  much-desired  islands,  and  straining  their  eye^ 
in  vain,  in  the  hope  of  looking  deeper  into  the  obscurity  in 
quest  of  objects  that  fancy  had  already  begun  to  invest  with 
forms.  In  the  course  of  the  night,  the  vessels  ran  in  a 
direct  line  towards  the  south-west,  seventeen  of  the  twenty 
five  leagues  that  Columbus  had  supposed  alone  separated 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  315 

him  from  this  new  discovery;  and  just  before  the  light 
dawned,  every  soul  in  the  three  vessels  was  stirring,  in  the 
eager  hope  of  having  the  panorama  of  day  open  on  such  a 
sight,  as  they  felt  it  to  be  but  a  slight  grievance  to  have 
come  so  far,  and  to  have  risked  so  much,  to  behold. 

"  Yonder  is  a  streak  of  light,  glimmering  in  th  cast," 
cried  Luis,  in  a  cheerful  voice;  "and  now,  Senor  Almi- 
rante,  we  may  unite  in  terming  you  the  honoured  of  the 
earth!" 

"All  rests  with  God,  my  young  friend,"  returned  Co 
lumbus  ;  "  whether  land  is  near  us  or  not,  it  boundeth  the 
western  ocean,  and  to  that  boundary  we  must  proceed. 
Thou  art  right,  truly,  friend  Gutierrez;  the  light  is  be 
ginning  to  shed  itself  along  the  eastern  margin  of  the  sea, 
and  even  to  rise  in  an  arch  into  the  vault  above  it." 

"  Would  that  the  sun  rose,  for  this  one  day,  in  the  west, 
.hat  we  might  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  our  new  posses 
sions  in  that  radiant  field  of  heaven,  which  his  coming 
rays  are  so  gloriously  illuminating  above  the  track  we 
have  just  passed !" 

"That  will  not  happen,  Master  Pedro,  since  Sol  hath 
journeyed  daily  round  this  planet  of  ours,  from  east  to 
west,  since  time  began,  and  will  so  continue  to  journey 
until  time  shall  cease.  This  is  a  fact  on  which  our  senses 
may  be  trusted,  though  they  mislead  us  in  so  many  other 
things." 

So  reasoned  Columbus,  a  man  whose  mind  had  out 
stripped  the  age,  in  his  favourite  study,  and  who  was  usu 
ally  so  calm  and  philosophical ;  simply  because  he  rea 
soned  in  the  fetters  of  habit  and  prejudice.  The  celebrated 
system  of  Ptolemy,  that  strange  compound  of  truth  and 
error,  was  the  favourite  astronomical  law  of  the  day. 
Copernicus,  who  was  then  but  a  mere  youth,  did  not 
reduce  the  just  conception  of  Pythagoras — just  in  out 
line,  though  fanciful  in  its  connextion  with  both  cause 
and  effect  —  to  the  precision  of  science  for  many  years 
after  the  discovery  of  America ;  and  it  is  a  strong  proof 
of  the  dangers  which  attended  the  advancement  of 
thought,  that  he  was  rewarded  for  this  vast  effort  of 
human  reason,  by  excommunication  from  the  church,  the 


316  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

maledictions  of  which  actually  rested  on  his  soul,  if  not  on 
his  body,  until  within  a  few  years  of  the  present  moment ! 
This  single  circumstance  will  show  the  reader  how  much 
our  navigator  had  to  overcome  in  achieving  the  great  office 
he  had  assumed. 

But  all  this  time,  the  day  is  dawning,  and  the  light  is 
beginning  to  diffuse  itself  over  the  entire  panorama  of 
ocean  and  sky.  As  means  were  afforded,  each  look  eagerly 
took  in  the  whole  range  of  the  western  horizon,  and  a 
chill  of  disappointment  settled  on  every  heart,  as  suspicion 
gradually  became  confirmation,  that  no  land  was  visible. 
The  vessels  had  passed,  in  the  night,  those  bounds  of  the 
visible  horizon,  where  masses  of  clouds  had  settled ;  and 
no  one  could  any  longer  doubt  that  his  senses  had  been 
deceived  by  some  accidental  peculiarity  in  the  atmosphere. 
All  eyes  now  turned  again  to  the  admiral,  who,  while  he 
felt  the  disappointment  ifi  his  inmost  heart,  maintained  a 
dignified  calm  that  it  was  not  easy  to  disturb. 

"These  signs  are  not  infrequent  at  sea,  Senors,"  he  said 
to  those  near  him,  speaking  loud  enough,  nevertheless,  to 
be  heard  by  most  of  the  crew,  "  though  seldom  as  trea 
cherous  as  they  have  now  proved  to  be.  All  accustomed 
to  the  ocean  have  doubtless  seen  them  often ;  and  as  phy 
sical  facts,  they  must  be  taken  as  counting  neither  for  nor 
against  us.  As  omens,  each  person  will  consider  them  as 
he  putteth  his  trust  in  God,  whose  grace  and  mercy  to  us 
all,  is  yet,  by  a  million  of  times,  unrequited,  and  still  would 
be,  were  we  to  sing  Gloria  in  excelsis,  from  morn  till 
night,  as  long  as  breath  lasted  for  the  sacred  office." 

"Still,  our  hope  was  so  very  strong,  Don  Chiistopher," 
observed  one  of  the  gentlemen,  "  that  we  find  the  disap 
pointment  hard  to  be  borne.  You  speak  of  omens,  Senor ; 
are  there  any  physical  signs  of  our  being  near  the  land 
of  Cathay?" 

"  Omens  come  of  God,  if  they  come  at  all.  They  are 
a  species  of  miracles  preceding  natural  events,  as  real 
miracles  surpass  them.  I  think  this  expedition  cometh  of 
God  ;  and  I  see  no  irreverence  in  supposing  that  this  late 
appearance  of  land  may  have  been  heaped  along  the  ho 
rizon  for  an  encouraging  sign  to  persevere,  and  as  a  proof 


MERCEDES   OP  CASTILE.  317 

that  our  labours  will  be  rewarded  in  the  end.  I  cannot  say, 
nevertheless,  that  any  but  natural  means  were  used,  for 
these  deceptions  are  familiar  to  us  mariners." 

"  I  shall  endeavour  so  to  consider  it,  Senor  Almirante," 
gravely  returned  the  other,  and  the  conversation  dropped. 

The  non-appearance  of  the  land,  which  had  been  so 
confidently  hoped  for,  produced  a  deep  gloom  in  the  ves 
sels,  notwithstanding ;  again  changing  the  joy  of  their  peo 
ple  into  despondency.  Columbus  continued  to  steer  due- 
west,  by  compass,  or  west  by  south,  southerly,  in  reality, 
until  meridian,  when,  yielding  to  the  burning  wishes  of 
those  around  him,  he  again  altered  his  course  to  the  south 
west.  This  course  was  followed  until  the  ships  had  gone 
far  enough  in  that  direction  to  leave  no  doubt  that  the  peu- 
ple  had  been  misled  by  clouds,  the  preceding  evening.  At 
night,  when  not  the  faintest  hope  remained,  the  vessels  kept 
away  due  west  again,  running,  in  the  course  of  the 
twenty-four  hours,  quite  thirty-one  leagues,  which  were  re 
corded  before  the  crew  as  twenty-four. 

For  several  succeeding  days  no  material  changes  oc 
curred.  The  wind  continued  favourable,  though  frequently 
so  light  as  to  urge  the  vessels  very  slowly  ahead,  reducing 
the  day's  progress  sometimes  to  little  more  than  fifty  of  our 
English  miles.  The  sea  was  calm,  and  weeds  were  again 
met,  though  in  much  smaller  quantities  than  before.  Sep 
tember  29th,  or  the  fourth  day  after  Pinzon  had  called  out 
"  land,"  another  frigate-bird  was  seen ;  and  as  it  was  the 
prevalent  notion  among  seamen  that  this  bird  never  flew 
far  from  the  shore,  some  faint  hopes  were  momentarily  re 
vived  by  his  passage.  Two  pelicans  also  appeared,  and 
the  air  was  so  soft  and  balmy  that  Columbus  declared 
nothing  but  nightingales  were  wanting  to  render  the  nightfc 
as  delicious  as  those  of  Andalusia. 

In  this  manner  did  birds  come  and  go,  exciting  hopes 
that  were  doomed  to  be  disappointed ;  sometimes  flying  in 
numbers  that  would  seem  to  forbid  the  idea  that  they  could 
be  straying  on  the  waste  of  waters,  without  the  certainty 
of  their  position.  Again,  too,  the  attention  of  the  admiral, 
and  of  the  people,  was  drawn  to  the  variation  of  the  nee 
dle,  all  uniting  in  the  opinion  that  the  phenomenon  was 
27* 


318  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

only  to  be  explained  by  the  movements  of  the  star.  At 
length  the  first  day  of  October  arrived,  and  the  pilots  of 
the  admiral's  vessel  seriously  set  to  work  to  ascertain  the 
distance  they  had  come.  They  had  been  misled  as  well  as 
the  rest,  by  the  management  of  Columbus,  and  they  now 
approached  the  latter,  as  he  stood  at  his  usual  post  on  the 
poop,  in  order  to  give  the  result  of  their  calculations,  with 
countenances  that  were  faithful  indexes  of  the  concern 
they  felt. 

"  We  are  not  less  than  five  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
leagues  west  of  Ferro,  Senor  Almirante,"  commenced  one 
of  the  two ;  "  a  fearful  distance  to  venture  into  the  bosom 
of  an  unknown  ocean !" 

"Thou  say'st  true,  honest  Bartolemeo,"  returned  Co 
lumbus,  calmly;  "though  the  farther  we  venture,  the 
greater  will  be  the  honour.  Thy  reckoning  is  even  short 
of  the  truth,  since  this  of  mine,  which  is  no  secret  from 
our  people,  giveth  even  five  hundred  and  eighty-four 
leagues,  fully  six  more  than  thine.  But,  after  all,  this 
scarce  equalleth  a  voyage  from  Lisbon  to  Guinea,  and 
we  are  not  men  to  be  outdone  by  the  seamen  of  Don 
John !" 

"  Ah  !  Senor  Almirante,  the  Portuguese  have  their  islands 
by  the  way,  and  the  old  world  at  their  elbows ;  while  we, 
should  this  earth  prove  not  to  be  really  a  sphere,  are  hourly 
sailing  towards  its  verge,  and  are  running  into  untried 
dangers !" 

"  Go  to,  Bartolemeo !  thou  talkest  like  a  river-man  who 
hath  been  blown  outside  his  bar  by  a  strong  breeze  from 
the  land,  and  who  fancieth  his  risks  greater  than  man  ever 
yet  endured,  because  the  water  that  wetteth  his  tongue  is 
salt.  Let  the  men  see  this  reckoning,  fearlessly;  and 
strive  to  be  of  cheer,  lest  we  remember  thy  misgivings, 
beneath  the  groves  of  Cathay." 

"  The  man  is  sore  beset  with  dread,"  coolly  observed 
Luis,  as  the  pilots  descended  from  the  poop  with  a  lingering 
step*  and  a  heavy  heart.  "  Even  your  six  short  leagues 
added  to  the  weight  on  his  spirit.  Five  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  were  frightful,  but  five  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  became  burthensome  to  his  soul !" 


MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 


319 


« What  wou.d  he  then  have  thought  had  he  known  the 
truth,  of  which,  young  count,  even  thou  art  ignorant  ?" 

"  I  hope  you  do  not  distrust  my  nerves,  Don  Christopher, 
that  this  matter  is  kept  a  secret  from  me  ?" 

"  I  ought  not,  I  do  believe,  Sefior  de  Llera ;  and  yet  one 
gets  to  be  distrustful  even  of  himself,  when  weighty  con 
cerns  hang  by  a  thread.  Hast  thou  any  real  idea  of  the 
length  of  the  road  we  have  come  T' 

"  Not  I,  by  St.  lago !  Sefior.  It  is  enough  for  me  that 
we  are  far  from  the  Dona  Mercedes,  and  a  league  more  or 
less  counts  but  littie.  Should  your  theory  be  true,  and  the 
earth  prove  to  be  round,  I  have  the  consolation  of  knowing 
that  we  shall  get  back  to  Spain,  in  time,  even  by  chasing 
the  sun." 

"  Still  thou  hast  some  general  notion  of  our  true  distance 
from  Ferro,  knowing  that  each  day  it  is  lessened  before  the 
people." 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Don  Christopher,  arithmetic  and 
I  have  little  feeling  for  each  other.  For  the  life  of  me,  I 
never  could  tell  the  exact  amount  of  my  own  revenues,  in 
figures,  though  it  might  not  be  so  difficult  to  come  at  their 
results,  in  another  sense.  If  truth  were  said,  however,  1 
should  think  your  five  hundred  and  eighty  leagues  might 
fairly  be  set  down  at  some  six  hundred  and  ten  or  twenty." 

"Add  yet  another  hundred  and  thou  wilt  not  be  far  from 
the  fact.  We  are,  at  this  moment,  seven  hundred  and  seven 
leagues  from  Ferro,  and  fast  drawing  near  to  the  meridian 
of  Cipango.  In  another  glorious  week,  or  ten  days  at  most, 
I  shall  begin  seriously  to  expect  to  see  the  continent  of 
Asia !" 

"  This  is  travelling  faster  than  I  had  thought,  Senor," 
answered  Luis,  carelessly ;  "  but  journey  on ;  one  of  your 
followers  will  not  complain,  though  we  circle  earth  itself." 


320  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

••Pronounce  what  sea,  what  shore  is  this? 
The  gulf,  the  rock  of  Salarais  ?  " 

BYRON. 

THE  adventurers  had  now  been  twenty-three  days  oui 
of  sight  of  land,  all  of  which  time,  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  very  immaterial  changes  in  the  wind,  and  a  day  01 
two  of  calms,  they  had  been  steadily  advancing  towards 
the  west,  with  a  southern  variation  that  ranged  between  a 
fourth  of  a  point  and  a  point  and  a  quarter,  though  the 
latter  fact  was  unknown  to  them.  Their  hopes  had  been 
so  often  raised  to  be  disappointed,  that  a  sort  of  settled 
gloom  now  began  to  prevail  among  the  common  men,  which 
was  only  relieved  by  irregular  and  uncertain  cries  of  l  land,* 
as  the  clouds  produced  their  usu-al  deceptions  in  the  horizon. 
Still  their  feelings  were  in  that  feverish  state  which  admits 
of  any  sudden  change ;  and  as  the  sea  continued  smooth 
as  a  river,  the  air  balmy,  and  the  skies  most  genial,  they 
were  prevented  from  falling  into  despair.  Sancho  reasoned, 
as  usual,  among  his  fellows,  resisting  ignorance  and  folly, 
with  impudence  and  dogmatism  ;  while  Luis  unconsciously 
produced  an  effect  on  the  spirits  of  his  associates  by  his 
cheerfulness  and  confidence.  Columbus,  himself,  remained 
calm,  dignified,  and  reserved,  relying  on  the  justice  of  his 
theories,  and  continuing  resolute  to  attain  his  object.  The 
wind  remained  fair,  as  before,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
night  and  day  of  the  2d  of  October,  the  vessels  sailed  more 
than  a  hundred  miles  still  further  into  that  unknown  and 
mysterious  sea.  The  weeds  now  drifted  westerly,  which 
was  a  material  change,  the  currents*  previously  setting,  in 
the  main,  in  an  opposite  direction.  The  3d  proved  even  a 
still  more  favourable  day,  the  distance  made  •  reaching  to 
forty-seven  leagues.  The  admiral  now  began  to  think  se 
riously  that  he  had  passed  the  islands  laid  down  in  his 
chart,  and,  with  th^  high  resolution  of  one  sustained  by 


MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE.  321 

grand  conceptions,  he  decided  to  stand  on  west,  with  the 
intention  of  reaching  the  shores  of  the  Indies,  at  once. 
The  4th  was  a  better  day  than  either,  the  little  fleet  passing 
steadily  ahead,  without  deviating  from  its  course,  until  it 
had  fairly  made  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  miles,  much 
the  greatest  day's  work  it  had  yet  achieved.  This  distance, 
so  formidable  to  men  who  began  to  count  each  hour  and 
each  league  with  uneasiness,  was  reckoned  to  all  on  board, 
but  Luis,  as  only  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  miles. 
^  Friday,  October  5th,  commenced  even  more  favourably, 
Columbus  finding  his  ship  gliding  through  the. water  — 
there  being  no  sea  to  cause  her  to  reel  and  stagger  —  at  the 
rate  of  about  eight  miles  the  hour,  which  was  almost  as 
fast  as  she  had  ever  been  known  to  go,  and  which  would 
have  caused  this  day's  work  to  exceed  the  last,  had  not  the 
wind  failed  in  the  night.  As  it  was,  however,  fifty-seven 
more  leagues  were  placed  between  Ferro  and  the  position 
of  the  vessels ;  a  distance  that  was  reduced  to  forty-five, 
with  the  crew.  The  following  day  brought  no  material 
change,  Providence  appearing  to  urge  them  on  at  a  speed 
that  must  soon  solve  the  great  problem  which  the  admiral 
had  been  so  long  discussing  with  the  learned.  It  was 
already  dark,  when  the  Pinta  came  sheering  down  upon  the 
quarter  of  the  Santa  Maria,  until  she  had  got  so  near  that 
her  commander  hailed  without  the  aid  of  a  trumpet. 

"  Is  Senor  Don  Christopher  at  his  post,  as  usual  ?"  hur 
riedly  demanded  Pinzon,  speaking  like  one  who  felt  he  had 
matter  of  weight  upon  his  mind :  "  I  see  persons  on  the 
poop,  but  know  not  if  his  Excellency  be  among  them." 

"What  would'st  thou,  good  Martin  Alonzo  ?"  answered 
the  admiral :  "  I  am  here,  watching  for  the  shores  of  Ci- 
pango,  or  Cathay,  whichever  God,  in  his  goodness,  may  be 
pleased  first  to  give  us." 

"  I  see  so  many  reasons,  noble  admiral,  for  changing  our 
course  more  to  the  south,  that  I  could  not  resist  the  desire 
to  come  down  and  say  as  much.  Most  of  the  late  disco 
veries  have  been  made  in  the  southern  latitudes,  and  we 
might  do  well  to  get  more  southing." 

"  Have  we  gained  aught  by  changing  our  course  in  this 
direction?  Thy  heart  seemeth  bent  on  more  southern 
climes,  worthy  friend ;  while  to  my  feelings  we  are  now  in 


322  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

the  very  paradise  of  sweets,  land  only  excepted.  Islands 
may  lie  south,  or  even  north  of  us ;  but  a  continent  must 
lie  west.  Why  abandon  a  certainty  for  an  uncertainty  ? 
the  greater  for  the  less  ?  Cipango  or  Cathay,  for  some  plea 
sant  spot,  fragrant  with  spices  no  doubt,  but  without  a 
name,  and  which  can  never  equal  the  glories  of  Asia,  either 
as  a  discovery  or  as  a  conquest  ?" 

"  I  would,  Senor,  I  might  prevail  on  you  to  steer  more  to 
the  south !" 

"Go  to,  Martin  Alonzo,  and  forget  thy  cravings.  My 
heart  is  *in  the  west,  and  thither  reason  teacheth  me  to  fol 
low  it.  First  hear  my  orders,  and  then  go  seek  the  Nina, 
that  thy  brother,  the  worthy  Vicente  Yanez,  may  obey  them 
also.  Should  aught  separate  us  in  the  night,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  all  to  stand  manfully  towards  the  west,  striving  to 
find  our  company ;  for  it  would  be  a  sad,  as  well  as  a  use 
less  thing,  to  be  wandering  alone  in  this  unknown  ocean." 

Pinzon,  though  evidently  much  displeased,  was  fain  to 
obey,  and,  after  a  short  but  a  sharp  and  loud  altercation 
with  the  admiral,  the  commander  of  the  Pinta  caused  her 
to  sheer  towards  the  felucca  to  execute  the  order. 

"  Martin  Alonzo  beginneth  to  waver,"  Columbus  observed 
to  Luis.  "  He  is  a  bold  and  exceeding  skilful  mariner,  but 
steadiness  of  object  is  not  his  greatest  quality.  He  must  be 
restrained  from  following  the  impulses  of  his  weakness,  by 
the  higher  hand  of  authority.  Cathay! — Cathay  is  my 
aim !" 

After  midnight  the  wind  increased,  and  for  two  hours  the 
caravels  glanced  through  the  smooth  ocean  at  their  greatest 
speed,  which  equalled  nine  English  miles  the  hour.  Few 
now  undressed,  except  to  change  their  clothes;  and  Co 
lumbus  slumbered  on  the  poop  that  night,  using  an  old  sail 
for  his  couch.  Luis  was  his  companion,  and  both  were  up 
and  on  the  deck  with  the  first  appearance  of  dawn.  A 
common  feeling  seemed  to  exist  among  all,  that  land  was 
near,  and  that  a  great  discovery  was  about  to  be  made.  An 
annuity  of  ten  thousand  maravedis  had  been  promised  by 
the  sovereigns  to  him  who  should  first  descry  land,  and 
every  eye  was  on  the  gaze,  whenever  opportunity  permitted, 
to  gain  the  prize. 

As  the  light  diffused  itself  downward  towards  the  margin 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  323 

of  the  ocean,  in  the  western  horizon,  all  thought  there  was 
the  appearance  of  land,  and  sail  was  eagerly  crowded  on 
the  different  vessels,  in  order  to  press  forward  as  fast  as 
possible,  that  their  respective  crews  might  enjoy  the  earliest 
and  the  best  chances  of  obtaining  the  first  view.  In  this 
respect,  circumstances  singularly  balanced  the  advantages 
and  disadvantages  between  the  competitors.  The  Nina  was 
the  fastest  vessel  in  light  airs  and  smooth  water,  but  she 
was  also  the  smallest.  The  Pinta  came  next  in  general 
speed,  holding  a  middle  place  in  size,  and  beating  her  con- 
sorts  with  a  fresh  breeze;  while  the  Santa  Maria,  the  last 
in  point  of  sailing,  had  the  highest  masts,  and  consequently 
swept  the  widest  range  of  horizon. 

"There  is  a  good  feeling  uppermost  to-day,  Senor  Don 
Christopher,"  said  Luis,  as  he  stood  at  the  admiral's  side, 
watching  the  advance  of  the  light  j  "  and  if  eyes  can  do 
it,  we  may  hope  for  the  discovery  of  land.  The  late  run 
hath  awakened  all  our  hopes,  and  land  we  must  have,  even 
if  we  raise  it  from  the  bottom  of  the  ocean." 

"  Yonder  is  Pepe,  the  dutiful  husband  of  Monica,  perched 
on  our  highest  yard,  straining  his  eyes  towards  the  west, 
in  the  hope  of  gaining  the  reward4!"  said  Columbus, 
smiling.  "Ten  thousand  maravedis,  yearly,  would,  in 
sooth,  be  some  atonement  to  carry  back  to  the  grieved 
mother  and  the  deserted  boy  !" 

"  Martin  Alonzo  is  in  earnest,  also,  Senor.  See  how  he 
presseth  forward  in  the  Pinta ;  but  Vicente  Yanez  hath  the 
heels  of  him,  and  is  determined  to  make  his  salutations 
first  to  the  Great  Khan,  neglectful  of  the  elder  brother's 
rights. 

"  Senor !  —  Senores  !"  shouted  Sancho  from  the  spar  on 
which  he  was  seated  as  composedly  as  a  modern  lady 
would  recline  on  her  ottoman  — "  the  felucca  is  speaking 
in  signals." 

"This  is  true"  —  cried  Columbus  —  "  Vicente  Yanez 
showeth  the  colours  of  the  queen,  and  there  goeth  a  lorn- 
barda  to  announce  some  great  event !" 

As  these  were  the  signals  directed  in  the  event  that  either 
vessel  should  discover  land  before  her  consorts,  little  doubt 
was  entertained  that  the  leading  caravel  had,  at  last,  really 
announced  the  final  success  of  the  expedition.  StiH  the 


324  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

recent  and  grave  disappointment  was  remembered,  and 
though  all  devoutly  poured  out  their  gratitude  in  mental 
offerings,  their  lips  were  sealed  until  the  result  should  show 
the  truth.  Every  rag  of  canvass  was  set,  however,  and 
the  vessels  seemed  to  hasten  their  speed  towards  the  west, 
like  birds  tired  with  an  unusual  flight,  which  make  new 
efforts  with  their  wearied  wings  as  the  prospect  of  alighting 
suddenly  breaks  on  their  keen  vision  and  active  instincts. 

Hour  passed  after  hour,  however,  and  brought  no  con 
firmation  of  the  blessed  tidings.  The  western  horizon 
looked  heavy  and  clouded  throughout  the  morning,  it  is 
true,  often  deceiving  even  the  most  practised  eyes;  but  as 
the  day  advanced,  and  the  vessels  had  passed  more  than 
fifty  miles  further  towards  the  west,  it  became  impossible 
not  to  ascribe  the  hopes  of  the  morning  to  another  optical 
illusion.  The  depression  of  spirits  that  succeeded  this  new 
disappointment  was  greater  than  any  that  had  before  ex 
isted,  and  the  murmurs  that  arose  were  neither  equivocal 
nor  suppressed.  It  was  urged  that  some  malign  influence 
was  leading  the  adventurers  on,  finally  to  abandon  them 
to  despair  and  destruction,  in  a  wilderness  of  waters.  This 
is  the  moment  when,  it  has  been  said,  Columbus  was  com 
pelled  to  make  conditions  with  his  followers,  stipulating  to 
abandon  the  enterprise  altogether,  should  it  fail  of  success 
in  a  given  number  of  days.  But  this  weakness  has  been 
falsely  ascribed  to  the  great  navigator,  who  never  lost  the 
fullest  exercise  of  his  authority,  even  in  the  darkest  mo 
ments  of  doubt ;  maintaining  his  purpose,  and  asserting 
his  power,  with  the  same  steadiness  and  calmness,  in  what 
some  thought  this  distant  verge  of  the  earth,  as  he  had 
done  in  the  rivers  of  Spain.  Prudence  and  policy  at  last 
dictated  a  change  of  course,  however,  which  he  was  neither 
too  obstinate  nor  too  proud  to  submit  to,  and  he  accordingly 
idopted  it  of  his  own  accord. 

"  We  are  now  quite  a  thousand  leagues  from  Ferro,  by 
my  private  reckoning,  friend  Luis,"  said  Columbus  to  his 
young  companion,  in  one  of  their  private  conferences, 
which  took  place  after  nightfall,  "  and  it  is  really  time  to 
expect  the  continent  of  Asia.  Hitherto  I  have  looked  for 
nought  but  islands,  and  not  with  much  expectation  of  seeing 
even  them,  though  Martin  Alonzo  and  the  pilots  have  been 


MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE.  325 

so  sanguine  in  their  hopes.  The  large  flocks  of  birds, 
however,  that  have  appeared  to-day,  would  seem  to  invite 
us  to  follow  their  flights, — land,  out  of  doubt,  being  their 
aim.  I  shall  accordingly  change  our  course  more  to  the 
south,  though  not  as  far  as  Pinzon  desireth,  Cathay  being 
still  my  goal." 

Columbus  gave  the  necessary  orders,  and  the  two  other 
caravels  were  brought  within  hail  of  the  Santa  Maria,  when 
their  commanders  were  directed  to  steer  west-south-west, 
The  reason  for  this  change  was  the  fact  that  so  many  birds 
had  been  seen  flying  in  that  direction.  The  intention  of 
the  admiral  was  to  pursue  this  course  for  two  days.  Not 
withstanding  this  alteration,  no  land  was  visible  in  the 
morning ;  but,  as  the  wind  was  light,  and  the  vessels  had 
only  made  five  leagues  since  the  course  was  changed,  the 
disappointment  produced  less  despondency  than  usual.  In 
spite  of  their  uncertainty,  all  in  the  vessels  now  rioted  in 
the  balmy  softness  of  the  atmosphere,  which  was  found  so 
fragrant  that  it  was  delicious  to  breathe  it.  The  weeds,  too, 
became  more  plenty,  and  many  of  them  were  as  fresh  as 
if  torn  from  their  native  rocks  only  a  day  or  two  pre 
viously.  Birds,  that  unequivocally  belonged  to  the  land, 
were  also  seen,  in  considerable  numbers,  one  of  which  was 
actually  taken ;  whilst  ducks  abounded,  and  another  peli 
can  was  met.  Thus  passed  the  8th  of  October,  the  adven 
turers  filled  with  hope,  though  the  vessels  only  increased 
their  distance  from  Europe  some  forty  miles  in  the  course 
of  the  twenty-four  hours.  The  succeeding  day  brought  no 
other  material  change  than  a  shift  of  wind,  which  com 
pelled  the  admiral  to  alter  his  course  to  west  by  north,  for 
a  few  hours.  This  caused  him  some  uneasiness,  for  it  was 
his  wish  to  proceed  due  west,  or  west-southerly ;  though  it 
afforded  considerable  relief  to  many  among  his  people,  who 
had  been  terrified  by  the  prevalence  of  the  winds  in  one 
direction.  Had  the  variation  still  existed,  this  would  have 
been,  in  fact,  steering  the  very  course  the  admiral  desired 
to  go ;  but  by  this  time,  the  vessels  were  in  a  latitude  and 
longitude  where  the  needle  resumed  its  powers  and  became 
faithful  to  its  direction.  In  the  course  of  the  night,  the 
trades  also  resumed  their  influence  ,*  and  early  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  10th  the  vessels  again  headed  towards  the  west« 
28 


326  MERCEDXS    OF   CASTILE. 

south-west,  by  compass,  which  was,   in   truth,   the  real 
course,  or  as  near  to  it  as  might  be. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  when  the  sun  rose  on  the 
morning  of  the  10th  October,  1492.  The  wind  had  fresh 
ened,  and  all  three  of  the  vessels  were  running  free  the 
whole  day,  at  a  rate  varying  from  five  knots  to  nine.  The 
signs  of  the  proximity  of  land  had  been  so  very  numerous 
of  late,  that,  at  every  league  of  ocean  they  passed  over, 
the  adventurers  had  the  strongest  expectations  of  disco 
vering  it,  and  nearly  every  eye  in  all  three  of  the  ships 
was  kept  conotantly  bent  on  the  western  horizon,  in  the 
hope  of  its  owner's  being  the  first  to  make  the  joyful  an^ 
nouncement  of  its  appearance.  The  cry  of  "  land"  had 
been  so  frequent  of  late,  however,  that  Columbus  caused  it 
to  be  made  known  that  he  who  again  uttered  it  cause 
lessly,  should  lose  the  reward  promised  by  the  sovereigns, 
even  should  he  happen  to  be  successful  in  the  end.  This 
information  induced  more  caution,  and  not  a  tongue  be 
trayed  its  master's  eagerness  on  this  all-engrossing  sul 
ject,  throughout  the  anxious  and  exciting  days  of  the  8th. 
9th,  and  10th  October.  But,  their  progress  in  the  course 
of  the  10th,  exceeding  that  made  in  the  course  of  both 
the  other  days,  the  evening  sky  was  watched  with  a  vigi 
lance  even  surpassing  that  which  had  attended  any  pre 
vious  sunset.  This  was  the  moment  most  favourable  for 
examining  the  western  horizon,  the  receding  light  illumi 
nating  the  whole  watery  expanse  in  tbat  direction,  in  a  way 
to  give  up  all  its  secrets  to  the  eye. 

"  Is  that  a  hummock  of  land  ?"  asked  Pepe  of  Sancho, 
in  a  low  voice,  as  they  lay  together  on  a  yard,  watching 
the  upper  limb  of  the  sun,  as  it  settled,  like  a  glimmering 
star,  beneath  the  margin  of  the  ocean — "  or  is  it  some  of 
this  misguiding  vapour  that  hath  so  often  misled  us  of 
late?"  ' 

"  'T  is  neither,  Pepe,"  returned  the  more  cool  and  expe 
rienced  Sancho  ;  "  but  a  rise  of  the  sea,  which  is  ever  thus 
tossing  itself  upward  on  the  margin  of  the  ocean.  Didst 
ever  see  a  calm  so  profound,  that  the  water  left  a  straight 
circle  on  the  horizon  ?  No  —  no  —  there  is  no  land  to  be 
seen  in  the  west  to-night ;  the  ocean,  in  that  quarter,  look 
ing  as  blank  as  if  we  stood  on  the  western  shore  of  Ferro, 


MERCEDES   OF  CASTILE.  327 

and  gazed  outward,  into  the  broad  fields  of  the  Atlantic. 
Our  noble  admiral  may  have  truth  of  his  side,  Pepe ;  but 
as  yet  he  hath  no  other  evidence  of  it  than  is  to  be  found 
in  his  reasons." 

"  And  dost  thou,  too,  take  sides  against  him,  Sancho,  and 
say  that  he  is  a  madman  who  is  willing  to  lead  others  to 
de'struction,  as  well  as  himself,  so  that  he  die  an  admiral  in 
fact,  and  a  viceroy  in  fancy  1" 

"  I  take  sides  against  no  man  whose  doblas  take  sides 
with  me,  Pepe ;  for  that  would  be  quarrelling  with  the  best 
friend  that  both  the  rich  and  poor  can  make,  which  is  gold. 
Don  Christopher  is  doubtless  very  learned,  and  one  thing 
hath  he  settled  to  my  satisfaction,  even  though  neither  he 
nor  any  of  us  ever  see  a  single  jewel  of  Cathay,  or  pluck 
a  hair  from  the  beard  of  the  Great  Khan,  and  that  is,  that 
this  world  is  round;  had  it  been  a  plain,  all  this  water 
would  not  be  placed  at  the  outer  side,  since  it  would  clearly 
run  off,  unless  dammed  up  by  land.  Thou  canst  conceive 
that,  Pepe?" 

"That  do  I;  it  is  reasonable  and  according  to  every 
man's  experience.  Monica  thinketh  the  Genoese  a  saint !" 
"Harkee,  Pepe;  thy  Monica  is  no  doubt  an  uncom 
monly  sensible  woman,  else  would  she  never  have  taken 
thee  for  a  husband,  when  she  might  have  chosen  among  a 
dozen  of  thy  fellows.  I  once  thought  of  the  girl  myself, 
and  might  have  told  her  so,  had  she  seen  fit  to  call  me  a 
saint,  too,  which  she  did  not,  seeing  that  she  used  a  very 
different  epithet.  But,  admitting  the  Senor  Colon  to  be  a 
saint,  he  would  be  none  the  better  admiral  for  it,  inasmuch 
as  I  never  yet  met  with  a  saint,  or  even  with  a  virgin,  that 
could  understand  the  bearings  and  distances  of  a  run  as 
short  as  that  from  Cadiz  to  Barcelona." 

"  Thou  speakest  irreverently,  Sancho,  of  virgins  and 
saints,  seeing  that  they  know  every  thing" — 

"  Ay,  every  thing  but  that.  Our  Lady  of  Rabida  does 
not  know  south-east-and-by-southe-half-southe,  from  north- 
west-and-by-noathe-half-noathe.  I  have  tried  her,  in  this 
matter,  and  I  tell  thee  she  is  as  ignorant  of  it  as  thy  Mo 
nica  is  ignorant  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Duchess  of 
Medina  Sidonia  saluteth  the  noble  duke  her  husband,  when 
he  returneth  from  hawking." 


328  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"  I  dare  say  the  duchess  would  not  know,  either,  what  to 
say,  were  she  in  Monica's  place,  and  were  she  called  on  to 
receive  me,  as  Monica  will  be,  when  we  return  from  this 
great  expedition.  If  I  have  never  hawked,  neither  hath  the 
duke  ever  sailed  for  two-and-thirty  days,  in  a  west  course 
from  Ferro,  and  this,  too,  without  once  seeing  land !" 

"  Thou  say'st  true,  Pepe ;  nor  hast  thou  ever  yet  done 
this  and  returned  to  Palos.  But  what  meaneth  all  this 
movement  on  deck  ?  Our  people  seem  to  be  much  moved 
by  some  feeling,  while  I  can  swear  it  is  not  from  having 
discovered  Cathay,  or  from  having  seen  the  Great  Khan, 
shining  like  a  carbuncle,  on  his  throne  of  diamonds." 

"  It  is  rather  that  they  do  not  see  him  thus,  that  the  men 
are  moved.  Dost  not  hear  angry  and  ihreatening  words 
from  the  mouths  of  the  troublesome  ones  ?" 

"  By  San  lago !  were  I  Don  Christopher,  but  I  would 
deduct  a  dobla  from  the  wages  of  each  of  the  rascals,  and 
give  the  gold  to  such  peaceable  men  as  you  and  me,  Pepe, 
who  are  willing  to  starve  to  death,  ere  we  will  go  back 
without  a  sight  of  Asia." 

"  'T  is  something  of  this  sort,  of  a  truth,  Sancho.  Let 
us  descend,  that  his  Excellency  may  see  that  he  hath  some 
friends  among  the  crew." 

As  Sancho  assented  to  this  proposition,  he  and  Pepe 
stood  on  the  deck  in  the  next  minute.  Here,  indeed,  the 
people  were  found  in  a  more  mutinous  state  than  they  had 
been  since  the  fleet  left  Spain.  The  long  continuation  of 
fair  winds,  and  pleasant  weather,  had  given  them  so  much 
reason  to  expect  a  speedy  termination  of  their  voyage,  that 
nearly  the  whole  crew  were  now  of  opinion  it  was  due  to 
themselves  to  insist  on  the  abandonment  of  an  expedition 
that  seemed  destined  to  lead  to  nothing  but  destruction. 
The  discussion  was  loud  and  angry,  even  one  or  two  of 
the  pilots  inclining  to  think,  with  their  inferiors,  that  further 
perseverance  would  certainly  be  useless,  and  might  be  fatal 
When  Sancho  and  Pepe  joined  the  crowd,  it  had  just  been 
determined  to  go  in  a  body  to  Columbus,  and  to  demand,  in 
terms  that  could  not  be  misconceived,  the  immediate  return 
of  the  ships  to  Spain.  In  order  that  this  might  be  done 
with  method,  Pedro  Alonzo  Nino,  one  of  the  pilots,  and  an 
aged  seaman  called  Juan  Martin,  were  selected  as  spokes- 


MERCEDES   OF  CASTILE.  329 

men.  At  this  critical  moment,  too,  the  admiral  and  Luis 
were  seen  descending  from  the  poop,  with  an  intent  to  re 
tire  to  their  cabin,  when  a  rush  was  made  aft,  by  all  on 
deck,  and  twenty  voices  were  heard  simultaneously  cry 
ing — 

"  Senor  —  Don  Christopher  — Your  Excellency  —  Senor 
Almirante !" 

Columbus  stopped,  and  faced  the  people  with  a  calmness 
and  dignity  that  caused  the  heart  of  Nino  to  leap  towards 
his  mouth,  and  which  materially  checked  the  ardour  of 
most  of  his  followers. 

"  What  would  ye  ?'*  demanded  the  admiral,  sternly. 
"  Speak  !  Ye  address  a  friend." 

"  We  come  to  ask  our  precious  lives,  Senor,"  answered 
Juan  Martin,  who  thought  his  insignificance  might  prove 
a  shield — "  nay,  what  is  more,  the  means  of  putting  bread 
into  the  mouths  of  our  wives  and  children.  All  here  are 
weary  of  this  profitless  voyage,  and  most  think  if  it  last 
any  longer  than  shall  be  necessary  to  return,  it  will  be  the 
means  of  our  perishing  of  want." 

"  Know  ye  the  distance  that  lieth  between  us  and  Ferro, 
that  ye  come  to  me  with  this  blind  and  foolish  request  ? 
Speak,  Nino ;  I  see  that  thou  art  also  of  their  number, 
notwithstanding  thy  hesitation." 

"  Senor,"  returned  the  pilot,  "  we  are  all  of  a  mind.  To 
go  farther  into  this  blank  and  unknown  ocean,  is  tempting 
God  to  destroy  us,  for  our  wilfulness.  It  is  vain  to  suppose 
that  this  broad  belt  of  water  hath  been  placed  by  Provi 
dence  around  the  habitable  earth  for  any  other  purpose 
than  to  rebuke  those  who  audaciously  seek  to  be  admitted 
to  mysteries  beyond  their  understanding.  Do  not  all  the 
churchmen,  Senor — the  pious  prioi  of  Santa  Maria  de  Ra- 
bida,  your  own  particular  friend,  included  —  tell  us  con 
stantly  of  the  necessity  of  submitting  to  a  knowledge  we 
can  never  equal,  and  to  believe  without  striving  to  lift  a 
veil  that  covers  incomprehensible  things  ?'' 

"  I  might  retort  on  thee,  honest  Nino,  with  thine  own 
words,"  answered  Columbus,  "  £«id  bid  thee  confide  in 
those  whose  knowledge  thou  cans*  neve*  equal,  and  to  fol 
low  submissively  where  thou  art  to^i^y  unfitted  to  lead. 
28* 


330  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

Go  to;  withdraw  with  thy  fellows,  and  let  me  hear  no 
more  of  this." 

"  Nay,  Senor,"  cried  two  or  three  in  a  breath,  "  we  can 
not  perish  without  making  our  complaints  heard.  We  have 
followed  too  far  already,  and,  even  now,  may  have  gone 
beyond  the  means  of  a  safe  return.  Let  us  then  turn  the 
heads  of  the  caravels  towards  Spain,  this  night,  lest  we 
never  live  to  see  that  blessed  country  again." 

"This  toucheth  on  revolt!  Who  among  ye  dare  use 
language  so  bold,  to  your  admiral  ?" 

"All  of  us,  Senor,"  answered  twenty  voices  together. 
"  Men  need  be  bold,  when  their  lives  would  be  forfeited  by 
silence." 

"  Sancho,  art  thou,  too,  of  the  party  of  these  mutineers  ? 
Dost  thou  confess  thy  heart  to  be  Spain-sick,  and  thy  un 
manly  fears  to  be  stronger  than  thy  hopes  of  imperishable 
glory  and  thy  longings  for  the  riches  and  pleasures  of 
Cathay?" 

"  If  I  do,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  set  me  to  greasing 
masts,  and  take  me  from  the  helm,  for  ever,  as  one  unfit 
to  watch  the  whirlings  of  the  north  star.  Sail  with  the 
caravels,  into  the  hall  of  the  Great  Khan,  and  make  fast 
to  his  throne,  and  you  will  find  Sancho  at  his  post,  whether 
it  be  at  the  helm  or  at  the  lead.  He  was  born  in  a  ship 
yard,  and  hath  a  natural  desire  to  know  what  a  ship 
can  do." 

"And  thou,  Pepe?  Hast  thou  so  forgotten  thy  duty  as 
to  come  with  this  language  to  thy  commander  ?  to  the  ad 
miral  and  viceroy  of  thy  sovereign,  the  Dona  Isabella  ?" 

"  Viceroy  over  what  ?"  exclaimed  a  voice  from  the 
crowd,  without  permitting  Pepe  to  answer.  "A  viceroy 
over  sea-weed,  and  one  that  hath  tunny-fish,  and  whales, 
and  pelicans,  for  subjects !  We  tell  you,  Senor  Colon,  that 
this  is  no  treatment  for  Castilians,  who  require  more  sub- 
stantial  discoveries  than  fields  of  weeds,  and  islands  of 
clouds !" 

«  Home !  —  Home !— Spain !— Spain  !— Palos !— Palos  !" 
oried  nearly  ail  together,  Sancho  and  Pepe  having  quitted 
tfhe  throng  and  ranged  themselves  at  the  side  of  Columbus. 
u  Ws  will  no  further  west,  which  is  tempting  God ;  but  de 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  331 

mand  to  be  carried  back  whence  we  came,  if,  indeed,  it  be 
not  already  too  late  for  so  happy  a  deliverance." 

"  To  whom  speak  ye  in  this  shameless  manner,  grace 
less  knaves?"  exclaimed  Luis,  unconsciously  iaying  a  hand 
where  it  had  been  his  practice  to  carry  a  rapier.  "  Get  ye 
gone,  or" — 

"  Be  tranquil,  friend  Pedro,  and  leave  this  matter  with 
me,"  interrupted  the  admiral,  whose  composure  had  scarce 
been  deranged  by  the  violent  conduct  of  his  subordinates. 
"  Listen  to  what  I  have  to  say,  ye  rude  and  rebellious  men, 
and  let  it  be  received  as  my  final  answer  to  any  and  all 
such  demands  as  ye  have  just  dared  to  make.  This  expe 
dition  hath  been  sent  forth  by  the  two  sovereigns,  your 
royal  master  and  mistress,  with  the  express  design  of 
crossing  the  entire  breadth  of  the  vast  Atlantic,  until  it 
might  reach  the  shores  of  India.  Now,  let  what  will  hap 
pen,  these  high  expectations  shall  not  be  disappointed ;  but 
westward  we  sail,  until  stopped  by  the  land.  For  this  de 
termination,  my  life  shall  answer.  Look  to  it,  that  none 
of  yours  be  endangered  by  resistance  to  the  royal  orders, 
or  by  disrespect  and  disobedience  to  their  appointed  substi 
tute  ;  for,  another  murmur,  and  I  mark  the  man  that  ut- 
tereth  it,  for  signal  punishment.  In  this  ye  have  my  full 
determination,  and  beware  of  encountering  the  anger  of 
those  whose  displeasure  may  prove  more  fatal  than  these 
fancied  dangers  of  the  ocean. 

"  Look  at  what  ye  have  before  ye,  in  the  way  of  fear, 
and  then  at  what  ye  have  before  ye,  in  the  way  of  hope. 
In  the  first  case,  ye  have  every  thing  to  dread  from  the 
sovereigns'  anger,  should  ye  proceed  to  a  violent  resistance 
of  their  authority,  or,  what  is  as  bad,  something  like  a  cer 
tainty  of  your  being  unable  to  reach  Spain,  for  want  of 
food  and  water,  should  ye  revolt  against  your  lawful 
leaders  and  endeavour  to  return.  For  this,  it  is  now  too 
late.  The  voyage  east  must,  as  regards  time,  be  double 
that  we  have  just  made,  and  the  caravels  are  beginning  to 
be  lightened  in  their  casks.  Land,  and  land  in  this  region, 
hath  become  necessary  to  us.  Now  look  at  the  other  side 
of  the  picture.  Before  ye,  lieth  Cathay,  with  all  its  riches, 
its  novelties  and  its^lories  !  A  region  more  wonderful  than 
anv  that  hath  yet  been  inhabited  by  man,  and  occupied  by 


332  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

a  race  as  gentle  as  they  are  hospitable  and  just.  To  this 
must  be  added  the  approbation  of  the  sovereigns,  and  the 
credit  that  will  belong  to  even  the  meanest  mariner  that 
hath  manfully  stood  by  his  commander  in  achieving  so 
great  an  end." 

"  If  we  will  obey  three  days  longer,  Senor,  will  you  then 
turn  towards  Spain,  should  no  land  be  seen  ?"  cried  a  voice 
from  the  crowd. 

"Never" — returned  "Columbus,  firmly.  "  To  India  am 
I  bound,  and  for  India  will  I  steer,  though  another  month 
be  needed  to  complete  the  journey.  Go  then  to  your  post? 
or  your  hammocks,  and  let  me  hear  no  more  of  this." 

There  was  so  much  natural  dignity  in  the  manner  of 
Columbus,  and  when  he  spoke  in  anger,  his  voice  carried 
so  much  of  rebuke  with  it,  that  it  exceeded  the  daring  of 
ordinary  men  to  presume  to  answer  when  he  commanded 
silence.  The  people  sullenly  dispersed,  therefore,  though 
the  disaffection  was  by  no  means  appeased.  Had  there 
been  only  a  single  vessel  in  the  expedition,  it  is  quite  pro 
bable  that  they  would  have  proceeded  to  some  act  of  vio 
lence  ;  but,  uncertain  of  the  state  of  feeling  in  the  Pinta 
and  the  Nina,  and  holding  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  in  as 
much  habitual  respect  as  they  stood  in  awe  of  Columbus, 
the  boldest  among  them  were,  for  the  present,  fain  to  give 
vent  to  their  dissatisfaction  in  murmurs,  though  they  se 
cretly  meditated  decided  measures,  as  soon  as  an  oppor 
tunity  for  consultation  and  concert,  with  the  crews  of  the 
other  vessels,  might  offer. 

"  This  looketh  serious,  Senor,"  said  Luis,  as  soon  as  he 
and  the  admiral  were  alone  again  in  their  little  cabin,  "  andr 
by  St.  Luke !  it  might  cool  the  ardour  of  these  knaves,  did 
your  Excellency  suffer  me  to  cast  two  or  three  of  the  most 
insolent  of  the  vagabonds  into  the  sea." 

"  Which  is  a  favour  that  some  among  them  have  actu 
ally  contemplated  conferring  upon  thee  and  me,"  answered 
Columbus.  "  Sancho  keepeth  me  well  informed  of  the 
feeling  among  the  people,  and  it  is  now  many  days  since 
he  hath  let  me  know  this  fact.  We  will  proceed  peaceably, 
if  possible,  Senor  Gutierrez,  or  de  Munos,  whichever  name 
thou  most  affectest,  as  long  as  we  ca"h ;  but  should  there 
truly  arise  an  occasion  to  resort  to  force,  thou  wilt  find  that 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  333 

Christofero  Colombo  knoweth  how  to  wield  a  sword  as  well 
as  he  knoweth  how  to  use  his  instruments  of  science." 

"  How  far  do  you  really  think  us  from  land,  Senor  Al- 
mirante  1  I  ask  from  curiosity  and  not  from  dread ;  for 
though  the  ship  floated  on  the  very  verge  of  the  earth, 
ready  to  fall  off  into  vacuum,  you  should  hear  no  murmur 
from  me." 

"  I  am  well  assured  of  this,  young  noble,"  returned  Co 
lumbus,  affectionately  squeezing  the  hand  of  Luis,  "  else 
would'st  thou  not  be  here.  I  make  our  distance  from  Ferro 
exceed  a  thousand  marine  leagues :  this  is  about  the  same 
as  that  at  which  I  have  supposed  Cathay  to  lie  from  Eurepe, 
and  it  is,  out  of  question,  sufficiently  far  to  meet  with  many 
of  the  islands  that  are  known  to  abound  in  the  seas  of 
Asia.  The  public  reckoning  maketh  the  distance  a  little 
more  than  eight  hundred  leagues ;  but,  in  consequence  of 
the  favourable  currents  of  which  we  have  lately  had  so 
much,  I  doubt  if  we  are  not  fully  eleven  hundred  from  the 
Canaries,  at  this  moment,  if  not  even  farther.  We  are 
doubtless  a  trifle  nearer  to  the  Azores,  which  are  situated 
farther  west,  though  in  a  higher  latitude." 

"  Then  you  think,  Senor,  that  we  may  really  expect 
land,  ere  many  days  ?" 

"  So  certain  do  I  feel  of  this,  Luis,  that  I  should  have 
little  apprehension  of  complying  with  the  terms  of  these 
audacious  men,  but  for  the  humiliation.  Ptolemy  divided 
the  earth  into  twenty-four  hours,  of  fifteen  degrees  each, 
and  I  place  but  some  five  or  six  of  these  hours  in  the  At 
lantic.  Thirteen  hundred  leagues,  I  feel  persuaded,  will 
bring  us  to  the  shores  of  Asia,  and  eleven  of  these  thirteen 
hundred  leagues  do  I  believe  we  have  come." 

"  To-morrow  may  then  prove  an  eventful  day,  Senor 
Almirante ;  and  now  to  our  cots,  where  I  shall  dream  of  a 
fairer  land  than  Christian  eye  ever  yet  looked  upon,  with 
the  fairest  maiden  of  Spain  —  nay,  by  San  Pedro !  of  Eu 
rope — beckoning  me  on  !" 

Columbus  and  Luis  now  sought  their  rest.  In  the  morn 
ing,  it  was  evident  by  the  surly  looks  of  the  people,  that 
feelings  like  a  suppressed  volcano  were  burning  in  their 
bosoms,  and  that  any  untoward  accident  might  produce  an 
eruption.  Fortunately,  however,  signs,  of  a  nature  so 


334  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

novel,  soon  appeared,  as  to  draw  off  the  attention  of  th6 
most  disaffected  from  their  melancholy  broodings.  The 
wind  was  fresh,  as  usual  fair,  arid,  what  was  really  a  no 
velty  since  quitting  Ferro,  the  sea  had  got  up,  and  the  ves 
sels  were  riding  over  waves  which  removed  that  appearance 
of  an  unnatural  calm  that  had  hitherto  alarmed  the  men 
with  its  long  continuance.  Columbus  had  not  been  on  deck 
five  minutes,  when  a  joyful  cry  from  Pepe  drew  all  eyes 
towards  the  yard  on  which  he  was  at  work.  The  seaman 
was  pointing  eagerly  at  some  object  in  the  water,  and  rush 
ing  to  the  side  of  the  vessel,  all  saw  the  welcome  sign  that 
had  caught  his  gaze.  As  the  ship  lifted  on  a  sea,  and  shot 
ahead,  a  rush,  of  a  bright  fresh  green,  was  passed,  and  the 
men  gave  a  loud  shout,  for  all  well  knew  that  this  plant 
certainly  came  from  some  shore,  and  that  it  could  not 
have  been  long  torn  from  the  spot  of  its  growth. 

"  This  is  truly  a  blessed  omen  !"  said  Columbus:  "  rushes 
cannot  grow  without  the  light  of  heaven,  whatever  may  be 
the  case  with  weeds." 

This  little  occurrence  changed,  or  at  least  checked,  the 
feelings  of  the  disaffected.  Hope  once  more  resumed  its 
sway,  and  all  who  could,  ascended  the  rigging  to  watch  the 
western  horizon.  The  rapid  motion  of  the  vessels,  too, 
added  to  this  buoyancy  of  feeling,  the  Pinta  and  Nina 
passing  and  repassing  the  admiral,  as  it  might  be  in  pure 
wantonness.  A  few  hours  later,  fresh  weeds  were  met,  and 
about  noon  Sancho  announced  confidently  that  he  had  seen 
a  fish  which  is  known  to  live  in  the  vicinity  of  rocks.  An 
hour  later,  the  Nina  came  sheering  up  towards  the  admiral, 
with  her  commander  in  the  rigging,  evidently  desirous  of 
communicating  some  tidings  of  moment. 

"  What  now,  good  Vicente  Yanez  ?"  called  out  Colum 
bus  :  "  thou  seemest  the  messenger  of  welcome  news  !" 

"  I  think  myself  such,  Don  Christopher,"  answered  the 
other.  "  We  have  just  passed  a  bush  bearing  roseberries, 
quite  newly  torn  from  ;he  tree !  This  is  a  sign  that  cannot 
deceive  us." 

"  Thou  say'st  true,  my  friend.  To  the  west !  —  to  the 
west !  Happy  will  he  be  whose  eyes  first  behold  the  won 
ders  of  the  Indies  ! " 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  describe  the  degree  of  hope  and 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  335 

exultation  that  now  began  to  show  itself  among  the  people. 
Good-natured  jests  flew  about  the  decks,  and  the  laugh  was 
easily  raised  where  so  lately  all  had  been  despondency  and 
gloom.  The  minutes  flew  swiftly  by,  and  every  man  had 
ceased  to  think  of  Spain,  bending  his  thoughts  again  on 
the  as  yet  unseen  west. 

A  little  later,  a  cry  of  exultation  was  heard  from  the 
Pinta,  which  was  a  short  distance  to  windward  and  ahead 
of  the  admiral.  As  this  vessel  shortened  sail  and  hove-to, 
lowering  a  boat,  and  then  immediately  kept  away,  the  Santa 
Maria  soon  came  foaming  up  under  her  quarter,  and  spoke 
her. 

"What  now,  Martin  Alonzo?"  asked  Columbus,  sup- 
pressing  his  anxiety  in  an  appearance  of  calmness  and  dig 
nity.  "  Thou  and  thy  people  seem  in  an  ecstasy !" 

"  Well  may  we  be  so !  About  an  hour  since,  we  passed 
a  piece  of  the  cane-plant,  of  the  sort  of  which  sugar  is 
made  in  the  East,  as  travellers  say,  and  such  as  we  often 
see  in  our  own  ports.  But  this  is  a  trifling  symptom  of 
land  compared  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree  that  we  have  also 
passed.  As  if  Providence  had  not  yet  dealt  with  us  with 
sufficient  kindness,  all  these  articles  were  met  floating  near 
each  other ;  and  we  have  thought  them  of  sufficient  value 
to  lower  a  boat,  that  we  might  possess  them." 

"  Lay  thy  sails  to  the  mast,  good  Martin  Alonzo,  and 
send  thy  prizes  hither,  that  I  may  judge  of  their  value." 

Pinzon  complied,  and  the  Santa  Maria  being  hove-to,  at 
the  same  time,  the  boat  soon  touched  her  side.  Martin 
Alonzo  made  but  one  bound  from  the  thwart  to  the  gunwale 
of  the  ship,  and  was  soon  on  the  deck  of  the  admiral. 
Here  he  eagerly  displayed  the  different  articles  that  his 
men  tossed  after  him,  all  of  which  had  been  taken  out  of 
the  sea,  not  an  hour  before. 

"  See,  noble  Senores,"  said  Martin  Alonzo,  almost  breath 
less  with  haste  to  display  his  treasures — "  this  is  a  sort  of 
board,  though  of  unknown  wood,  and  fashioned  with  ex 
ceeding  care  :  here  is  also  another  piece  of  cane  :  this  is  a 
plant  that  surely  cometh  from  the  land  ;  and  most  of  all, 
this  is  a  walking-stick,  fashioned  by  the  hand  of  man,  and 
that,  too,  with  exceeding  care  1" 

"All  this  is  true,"  said  Columbus,  examining  the  different 


336  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

articles,  one  by  one ;  "  God,  in  his  might  and  power,  bo 
praised  for  these  comfortable  evidences  of  our  near  ap 
proach  to  a  new  world !  None  but  a  malignant  infidel  can 
now  doubt  of  our  final  success." 

"  These  things  have  questionless  coma  from  some  boat 
that  hath  been  upset,  which  will  account  for  their  being  so 
near  each  other  in  the  water,"  said  Martin  Alonzo,  willing 
to  sustain  his  physical  proofs  by  a  plausible  theory.  "  It 
would  not  be  wonderful  were  drowned  bodies  near." 

"  Let  us  hope  not,  Martin  Alonzo,"  answered  the  ad 
miral  ;  "  let  us  fancy  nought  so  melancholy.  A  thousand 
accidents  may  have  thrown  these  articles  together,  into  the 
sea ;  and  once  there,  they  would  float  in  company  for  a 
twelvemonth,  unless  violently  separated.  But,  come  they 
whence  they  may,  to  us,  they  are  infallible  proofs  that  not 
only  land  is  near,  but  land  which  is  the  abiding  place  of 
men." 

It  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  enthusiasm  that  now  pre 
vailed  in  all  the  vessels.  Hitherto  they  had  met  with  only 
birds,  and  fishes,  and  weeds,  signs  that  are  often  preca 
rious  ;  but  here  was  such  proof  of  their  being  in  the  neigh 
bourhood  of  their  fellow-creatures,  as  it  was  not  easy  to 
withstand.  It  was  true,  articles  of  this  nature  might  drift, 
in  time,  even  across  the  vast  distance  they  had  come ;  but 
it  was  not  probable  that  they  would  drift  so  far  in  com 
pany.  Then,  the  berries  were  fresh,  the  board  was  of  an 
unknown  wood,  and  the  walking-stick,  in  particular,  if 
such  indeed  was  its  use,  was  carved  in  a  manner  that  was 
never  practised  in  Europe.  The  different  articles  passed 
from  hand  to  hand,  until  all  in  the  ship  had  examined 
them  ;  and  every  thing  like  doubt  vanished  before  this  un 
looked-for  confirmation  of  the  admiral's  predictions.  Pin- 
zon  returned  to  his  vessel,  sail  was  again  made,  and  the 
fleet  continued  to  steer  to  the  west-south-west,  until  the 
hour  of  sunset. 

Something  like  a  chill  of  disappointment  again  came 
over  the  more  faint-hearted  of  the  people,  however,  as  they 
once  more,  or  for  the  thirty -fourth  time  since  quitting  Go- 
mera,  saw  the  sun  sink  behind  a  watery  horizon.  More 
than  a  hundred  vigilant  eyes  watched  the  glowing  margin 
of  the  ocean,  at  this  interesting  moment,  and  though  the 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  337 

heavens  were  cloudless,  nought  was  visible  but  the  glori 
ously  tinted  vault,  and  the  outline  of  water,  broken  into 
the  usual  ragged  forms  of  the  unquiet  element. 

The  wind  freshened  as  evening  closed,  and  Columbus 
having  called  his  vessels  together,  as  was  usual  with  him 
at  that  hour,  he  issued  new  orders  concerning  the  course. 
For  the  last  two  or  three  days  they  had  been  steering  ma 
terially  to  the  southward  of  west,  and  Columbus,  who  felt 
persuaded  that  his  most  certain  and  his  nearest  direction, 
from  land  to  land,  was  to  traverse  the  ocean,  if  possible, 
on  a  single  parallel  of  latitude,  was  anxious  to  resume  his 
favourite  course,  which  was  what  he  fancied  to  be  due  west. 
Just  as  night  drew  around  the  mariners,  accordingly,  the 
ships  edged  away  to  the  required  course,  and  ran  off  at  the 
rate  of  nine  miles  the  hour,  following  the  orb  of  day,  as  if 
resolute  to  penetrate  into  the  mysteries  of  his  nightly  re 
treat,  until  some  great  discovery  should  reward  the  effort. 

Immediately  after  this  change  in  the  course,  the  people 
sang  the  vesper  hymn,  as  usual,  which,  in  that  mild  sea, 
they  often  deferred  until  the  hour  when  the  watch  below 
sought  their  hammocks.  That  night,  however,  none  felt 
disposed  to  sleep ;  and  it  was  late  when  the  chant  of  the 
seamen  commenced,  with  the  words  of  "  Salve  fac  Re- 
gina."  It  was  a  solemn  thing  to  hear  the  songs  of  religious 
praise,  mingling  with  the  sighings  of  the  breeze  and  the 
wash  of  the  waters,  in  that  ocean  solitude ;  and  the  so 
lemnity  was  increased  by  the  expectations  of  the  adven 
turers  and  the  mysteries  that  lay  behind  the  curtain  they 
believed  themselves  about  to  raise.  Never  before  had  this 
hymn  sounded  so  sweetly  in  the  ears  of  Columbus,  and 
Luis  found  his  eyes  suffusing  with  tears  as  he  recalled  the 
soft  thrilling  notes  of  Mercedes's  voice,  in  her  holy  breath 
ings  of  praise  at  this  hour.  When  the  office  ended,  the 
admiral  called  the  crew  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  addressed 
them  earnestly  from  his  station  on  the  poop. 

"  I  rejoice,  my  friends,"  he  said,  "  that  you  have  had  the 
grace  to  chant  the  vesper  hymn  in  so  devout  a  spirit,  at  a 
mome-nt  when  there  is  so  much  reason  to  be  grateful  to 
God  for  his  goodness  to  us  throughout  this  voyage.  Look 
back  at  the  past,  and  see  if  one  of  you,  the  oldest  sailor 
of  your  number,  can  recal  any  passage  at  sea,  I  will  not 
29 


338  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

say  of  equal  length,  for  that  no  one  here  hath  ever  before 
made,  but  any  equal  number  of  days  at  sea,  in  which  the 
winds  have  been  as  fair,  the  weather  as  propitious,  or  the 
ocean  as  calm,  as  on  this  occasion.  Then  what  cheering 
signs  have  encouraged  us  to  persevere !  God  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  ocean,  my  friends,  as  well  as  in  his  sanctua 
ries  of  the  land.  Step  by  step,  as  it  were,  hath  he  led  us 
on,  now  filling  the  air  with  birds,  now  causing  the  sea  to 
abound  with  unusual  fishes,  and  then  spreading  before  us 
fields  of  plants,  such  as  are  seldom  met  far  from  the  rocks 
where  they  grew.  The  last  and  best  of  his  signs  hath  he 
given  us  this  day.  My  own  calculations  are  in  unison  with 
these  proofs,  and  I  deem  it  probable  that  we  reach  the  land 
this  very  night.  In  a  few  hours,  or  when  we  shall  have 
run  the  distance  commanded  by  the  eye,  as  the  light  left 
us,  I  shall  deem  it  prudent  to  shorten  sail ;  and  I  call  on 
all  of  you  to  be  watchful,  lest  we  unwittingly  throw  our 
selves  on  the  strange  shores.  Ye  know  that  the  sovereigns 
have  graciously  promised  ten  thousand  maravedis,  yearly, 
and  for  life,  to  him  who  shall  first  discover  land :  to  this 
rich  reward,  I  will  add  a  doublet  of  velvet,  such  as  it  would 
befit  a  grandee  to  wear.  Sleep  not,  then  ;  but,  at  the  turn 
of  the  night,  be  all  vigilance  and  watchfulness.  I  am  now 
most  serious  with  ye,  and  look  for  land  this  very  blessed 
night." 

These  encouraging  words  produced  their  full  effect,  the 
men  scattering  themselves  in  the  ship,  each  taking  the  best 
position  he  could,  to  earn  the  coveted  prizes.  Deep  ex 
pectation  is  always  a  quiet  feeling,  the  jealous  senses 
seeming  to  require  silence  and  intensity  of  concentration, 
in  order  to  give  them  their  full  exercise.  Columbus  re 
mained  on  the  poop,  while  Luis,  less  interested,  threw  him 
self  on  a  sail,  and  passed  the  time  in  musing  on  Mercedes, 
and  in  picturing  to  -himself  the  joyful  moment  when  he 
might  meet  her  again,  a  triumphant  and  successful  adven 
turer. 

The  death-like  silence  that  prevailed  in  the  ship,  added 
to  the  absorbing  interest  of  that  impotrant  night.  At  the 
distance  of  a  mile  was  the  little  N:na,  gliding  on  her  course 
with  a  full  sail ;  while  half  a  league  still  farther  in  advance 
was  to  be  seen  the  shadowy  outline  of  the  Pinta,  which 
preceded  her  consorts,  as  the  swiftest  sailer  with  a  fresh 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  339 

breeze.  Sancho  had  been  round  to  every  sheet  and  brace, 
in  person,  and  never  before  had  the  admiral's  ship  held  as 
good  way  with  her  consorts  as  on  that  night,  all  three  of 
the  vessels  appearing  to  have  caught  the  eager  spirit  of 
those  they  contained,  and  to  be  anxious  to  outdo  themselves. 
At  moments  the  men  started,  while  the  wind  murmured 
through  the  cordage,  as  if  they  heard  unknown  and  strange 
voices  from  a  mysterious  world ;  and  fifty  times,  when  the 
waves  combed  upon  the  sides  of  the  ship,  did  they  turn 
their  heads,  expecting  to  see  a  crowd  of  unknown  beings, 
fresh  from  the  eastern  world,  pouring  in  upon  their  decks. 

As  for  Columbus,  he  sighed  often ;  for  minutes  at  a 
time  would  he  stand  looking  intently  towards  the  west,  like 
one  who  strove  to  penetrate  the  gloom  of  night,  with 
organs  exceeding  human  powers.  At  length  he  bent  his 
body  forward,  gazed  intently  over  the  weather  railing  of 
the  ship,  and. then  lifting  his  cap,  he  seemed  to  be  offering 
up  his  spirit  in  thanksgiving  or  prayer.  All  this  Luis  wit 
nessed,  where  he  lay  :  at  the  next  instant  he  heard  himself 
called. 

"  Pero  Gutierrez  —  Pedro  de  Munos  —  Luis  —  whatever 
thou  art  termed,"  said  Columbus,  his  fine  masculine  voice 
trembling  with  eagerness, — "  come  hither,  son ;  tell  me  if 
thine  eyes  accord  with  mine.  Look  in  this  direction  — 
here,  more  on  the  vessel's  beam ;  seest  thou  aught  uncom 
mon  ?" 

*'  I  saw  a  light,  Senor ;  one  that  resembled  a  candle, 
being  neither  larger  nor  more  brilliant;  and  to  me  it  ap 
peared  to  move,  as  if  carried  in  the  hand,  or  tossed  by 
waves." 

"  Thy  eyes  did  not  deceive  thee ;  thou  seest  it  doth 
not  come  of  either  of  our  consorts,  both  of  which  are 
here  on  the  bow." 

"  What  do  you,  then,  take  this  light  to  signify,  Don 
Christopher  ?"  ' 

'*  Land !  It  is  either  on  the  land  itself,  rendered  small 
by  distance,  or  it  cometh  of  some  vessel  that  is  a  stranger 
to  us,  and  which  belongeth  to  the  Indies.  There  is  Rodrigo 
Sanchez  of  Segovia,  the  comptroller  of  the  fleet,  beneath 
us ;  descend  and  bid  him  come  hither." 

Luis  did  as  required,  and  presently  the  comptroller  was 


340  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

also  at  the  admiral's  side.  Half  an  hour  passed,  and  the 
light  was  not  seen  again  ;  then  it  gleamed  upward  once  or 
twice,  like  a  torch,  and  finally  disappeared.  This  circum 
stance  was  soon  known  to  all  in  the  ship,  though  few 
attached  the  same  importance  to  it  as  Columbus  himself. 

"  This  is  land,"  quietly  observed  the  admiral,  to  those 
near  his  person  :  "  ere  many  hours  we  may  expect  to  behold 
it.  Now  ye  may  pour  out  your  souls  in  gratitude  and  con 
fidence,  for  in  such  a  sign  there  can  be  no  deception.  No 
phenomenon  of  the  ocean  resembleth  that  light ;  and  my 
reckoning  placeth  us  in  a  quarter  of  the  world  where  land 
must  exist,  else  is  the  earth  no  sphere." 

Notwithstanding  this  great  confidence  on  the  part  of  the 
admiral,  most  of  those  in  the  ship  did  not  yet  feel  the  same 
certainty  in  the  result,  although  all  felt  the  strongest  hopes 
of  falling  in  with  land  next  day.  Columbus  saying  no 
more  on  the  subject,  the  former  silence  was  soon  resumed, 
and,  in  a  few  minutes,  every  eye  was  again  turned  to  the 
west,  in  anxious  watchfulness.  In  this  manner  the  time 
passed  away,  the  ships  driving  ahead  with  a  speed  much 
exceeding  that  of  their  ordinary  rate  of  sailing,  until  the 
night  had  turned,  when  its  darkness  was  suddenly  illu 
minated  by  a  blaze  of  light,  and  the  report  of  a  gun  from 
the  Pinta  came  struggling  up  against  the  fresh  breeze  of 
the  trades. 

"  There  speaketh  Martin  Alonzo  !"  exclaimed  the  admi 
ral  ;  "  and  we  may  be  certain  that  he  hath  not  given  the 
signal  idly.  Who  sitteth  on  the  top-gallant  yard,  there,  on 
watch  for  wonders  ahead  ?" 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,  it  is  I,"  answered  Sancho.  "  I 
have  been  here  since  we  sang  the  vesper  hymn." 

"  Seest  thou  aught  unusual,  westward  1  Look  vigilantly 
for  we  touch  on  mighty  things !" 

"  Nought,  Senor,  unless  it  be  that  the  Pinta  is  lessening 

ner  canvas-s,  and  the  Nina  is  already  closing  with  our  fleet 

consort  —  nay,  I  now  see  the  latter  shortening  sail,  also!" 

"  For  these  great  tidings,  all  honour  and  praise  be  to 

God1     These  are  proofs  that  no  false  cry  hath  this  time 

misled  their  judgments.     We  will  join  our  consorts,  good 

Bartolemeo,  ere  we  take  in  a  single  inch  of  canvass." 

Everything  was  now  in  motion  on  board  the  Santa  Maria, 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  341 

which  went  dashing  ahead  for  another  half  hour,  when  she 
came  up  with  the  two  other  caravels,  both  of  which  had 
hauled  by  the  wind,  under  short  canvass,  and  were  forging 
slowly  through  the  water,  on  different  tacks,  like  coursers 
cooling  themselves  after  having  terminated  a  severe  strug 
gle  by  reaching  the  goal. 

"  Come  hither,  Luis,"  said  Columbus,  "  and  feast  thine 
eyes  with  a  sight  that  doth  not  often  meet  the  gaze  of  the 
best  of  Christians." 

The  night  was  far  from  dark,  a  tropical  sky  glittering 
with  a  thousand  stars,  and  even  the  ocean  itself  appearing 
to  emit  a  sombre  melancholy  light.  By  the  aid  of  such 
assistants  it  was  possible  to  see  several  miles,  and  more 
especially  to  note  objects  on  the  margin  of  the  ocean. 
When  the  young  man  cast  his  eyes  to  leeward,  as  directed 
by  Columbus,  he  very  plainly  perceived  a  point  where  the 
blue  of  the  sky  ceased,  and  a  dark  mound  rose  from  the 
water,  stretching  for  a  few  leagues  southward,  and  then 
terminated,  as  it  had  commenced,  by  a  union  between  the 
watery  margin  of  the  ocean  and  the  void  of  heaven.  The 
intermediate  space  had  the  denned  outline,  the  density,  and 
the  hue  of  land,  as  seen  at  midnight. 

"  Behold  the  Indies  !"  said  Columbus  ;  "  the  mighty 
problem  is  solved !  This  is  doubtless  an  island,  but  a  con 
tinent  is  near.  Laud  be  to  God  !" 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

"There  is  a  Power,  whose  care 

Teaches  thy  way  along  that  pathless  coast  — 
The  desert  and  illimitable  air  — 
Lone  wandering,  but  not  lost." 

BRYANT. 

THE  two  or  three  hours  that  succeeded,  were  hours  of 
an  extraordinary  and  intense  interest.     The  three  vessels 
stood  hovering  off  the  dusky  shore,  barely  keeping  at  a 
29* 


342  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

safe  distance,  stripped  of  most  of  their  canvass,  resembling 
craft  that  cruised  leisurely  at  a  given  point,  indifferent  to 
haste  or  speed.  As  they  occasionally  and  slowly  passed 
each  other,  words  of  heart-felt  congratulation  were  ex 
changed  ;  but  no  noisy  or  intemperate  exultation  was  heard 
on  that  all-important  night.  The  sensations  excited  in  the 
adventurers,  by  their  success,  were  too  deep  and  solemn  ibr 
any  such  vulgar  exhibition  of  joy ;  and  perhaps  there  was 
not  one  among  them  all  who  did  not,  at  that  moment,  in 
wardly  confess  his  profound  submission  to,  and  absolute 
dependence  on,  a  Divine  Providence. 

Columbus  was  silent.  Emotions  like  his,  seldom  find 
vent  in  words  ;  but  his  heart  was  overflowing  with  gratitude 
and  love.  He  believed  himself  to  be  in  the  farther  east, 
and  to  have  reached  that  part  of  the  world  by  sailing  west ; 
and  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  he  expected  the  curtain  of 
day  would  rise  on  some  of  those  scenes  of  oriental  mag 
nificence  which  had  been  so  eloquently  described  by  the 
Polos  and  other  travellers  in  those  remote  and  little-known 
regions.  That  this  or  other  islands  were  inhabited,  the  little 
he  had  seen  sufficiently  proved ;  but,  as  yet,  all  the  rest 
was  conjecture  of  the  wildest  and  most  uncertain  char 
acter.  The  fragrance  of  the  land,  however,  was  very  per 
ceptible  in  the  vessels,  thus  affording  an  opportunity  to  two 
of  the  senses  to  unite  in  establishing  their  success. 

At  length  the  long  wished-for  day  approached,  and  the 
eastern  sky  began  to  assume  the  tints  that  precede  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  sun.  As  the  light  diffused  itself  athwart 
the  dark  blue  ocean,  and  reached  the  island,  the  outlines  of 
the  latter  became  more  and  more  distinct :  then  objects  be 
came  visible  on  its  surface,  trees,  glades,  rocks,  and  irregu 
larities,  starting  out  of  the  gloom,  until  the  whole  picture 
was  drawn  in  the  grey  solemn  colours  of  morning.  Pre 
sently  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  touched  it,  gilding  its 
prominent  points,  and  throwing  others  into  shadow.  It  then 
became  apparent  that  the  discovery  was  that  of  an  island  of 
no  great  extent,  well  wooded,  and  of  a  verdant  and  plea 
sant  aspect.  The  land  was  low,  but  possessed  an  outline 
sufficiently  graceful  to  cause  it  to  seem  a  paradise  in  the 
eyes  of  men  who  had  seriously  doubted  whether  they  were 
ever  to  look  on  solid  ground  again.  The  view  of  his  mo- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  343 

ther  earth  is  always  pleasant  to  the  mariner  who  has  long 
gazed  on  nothing  but  water  and  sky ;  but  thrice  beautiful 
did  it  now  seem  to  men  who  not  only  saw  in  it  their  despair 
cured,  but  their  most  brilliant  hopes  revived.  From  the 
position  of  the  land  near  him,  Columbus  did  not  doubt  that 
he  had  passed  another  island,  on  which  the  light  had  been 
seen,  and,  from  his  known  course,  this  conjecture  has  since 
been  rendered  almost  certain. 

The  sun  had  scarcely  risen,  when  living  beings  were 
seen  rushing  out  of  the  woods,  to  gaze  in  astonishment  at 
the  sudden  appearance  of  machines,  that  were  at  first  mis 
taken  by  the  untutored  islanders,  for  messengers  from 
heaven.  Shortly  after,  Columbus  anchored  his  little  fleet, 
and  landed  to  take  possession  in  the  name  of  the  two 
sovereigns. 

As  much  state  was  observed  on  this  occasion  as  the 
limited  means  of  the  adventurers  would  allow.  Each  ves 
sel  sent  a  boat,  with  her  commander.  The  admiral,  attired 
in  scarlet,  and  carrying  the  royal  standard,  proceeded  in 
advance,  while  Martin  Alonzo,  and  Vicente  Yanez  Pinzon, 
followed,  holding  banners  bearing  crosses,  the  symbol  of 
the  expedition,  with  letters  representing  the  initials  of  the 
,\vo  sovereigns,  or  F  and  Y,  for  Fernando  and  Ysabel. 

The  forms  usual  to  such  occasions  were  observed  on 
reaching  the  shore.  Columbus  took  possession,  rendered 
thanks  to  God  for  the  success  of  the  expedition,  and  then 
began  to  look  about  him  in  order  to  form  some  estimate  of 
the  value  of  his  discovery.* 

*  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  position  and  name  of  the  pre 
cise  island  that  was  first  fallen  in  with,  on  this  celebrated  voyage,  re- 
main  to  this  day,  if  not  a  matter  of  doubt,  at  least  a  matter  of  dis 
cussion.  By  most  persons,  some  of  the  best  authorities  included,  it  ia 
believed  that  the  adventurers  made  Cat  Island,  as  the  place  is  now 
called,  though  the  admiral  gave  it  the  appellation  of  San  Salvador ; 
while  others  contend  for  what  is  now  termed  Turk's  Island.  The  rea. 
son  given  for  the  latter  opinion  is  the  position  of  the  island,  and  the 
course  subsequently  steered  in  order  to  reach  Cuba.  Munoz  is  of 
opinion  that  it  was  Watling's  Island,  which  lies  due  east  of  Cat  Island, 
at  the  distance  of  a  degree  of  longitude,  or  a  few  hours'  run.  As  re 
spects  Turk's  Island,  the  facts  do  not  sustain  the  theory.  The  course 
Bteered,  after  quitting  the  island,  was  not  west,  but  south-west ;  and 
we  find  Columbus  anxious  to  get  south  to  reach  the  island  of  Cuba, 


344  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

No  sooner  were  the  ceremonies  observed,  than  the  pco 
pie  crowded  round  the  admiral,  and  began  to  pour  out  theil 
congratulations  for  his  success,  with  their  contrition  fo* 
their  own  distrust  and  disaffection.  The  scene  has  often 
been  described  as  a  proof  of  the  waywardness  and  incon 
stancy  of  human  judgments ;  the  being  who  had  so  lately 
been  scowled  on  as  a  reckless  and  selfish  adventurer,  being 
now  regarded  as  little  less  than  a  god.  The  admiral  was  no 
more  elated  by  this  adulation,  than  he  had  been  intimidated 
by  the  previous  dissatisfaction,  maintaining  his  calmness  of 
exterior  and  gravity  of  demeanour,  with  those  who  pressed 
around  him,  though  a  close  observer  might  have  detected 
the  gleaming  of  triumph  in  his  eye,  and  the  glow  of  in 
ward  rapture  on  his  cheek. 

"  These  honest  people  are  as  inconstant  in  their  appre 
hensions,  as  they  are  extreme  in  their  rejoicings,"  said  Co 
lumbus  to  Luis,  when  liberated  a  little  from  the  throng ; 
"  yesterday  they  would  have  cast  me  into  the  sea,  and  to 
day  they  are  much  disposed  to  forget  God,  himself,  in  his 
unworthy  creature.  Dost  not  see,  that  the  men  who  gave 
us  most  concern,  on  account  of  their  discontent,  are  now 
the  loudest  in  their  applause  ?" 

"  This  is  but  nature,  Senor ;  fear  flying  from  panic  to 
exultation.  These  knaves  fancy  they  are  praising  you, 
when  they  are  in  truth  rejoicing  in  their  own  escape  from 
some  unknown  but  dreaded  evil.  Our  friends  Sancho  and 
Pepe  seem  not  to  be  thus  overwhelmed,  for  while  the  last 
is  gathering  flowers  from  this  shore  of  India,  the  first 
seems  to  be  looking  about  him  with  commendable  coolness, 
as  if  he  might  be  calculating  the  latitude  and  longitude  of 
the  Great  Khan's  doblas." 

Columbus  smiled,  and,  accompanied  by  Luis,  he  drew 
nearer  to  the  two  men  mentioned,  who  were  a  little  apart 
from  the  rest  of  the  group.  Sancho  was  standing  with  his 
hands  thrust  into  the  bosom  of  his  doublet,  regarding  the 


which  was  described  to  him  by  the  natives,  and  which  he  believed  to 
be  Cipango.  No  reason  is  given  by  Murioz  for  his  opinion  ;  but  Wat- 
ling's  Island  does  not  answer  the  description  of  the  great  navigator, 
while  it  is  so  placed  as  to  have  lain  quite  near  his  course,  and  was 
doubtless  passed  unseen  in  the  darkness.  It  is  thought  the  light  so 
often  observed  by  Columbus  was  on  this  island. 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  845 

scene  with  the  coolness  of  a  philosopher,  and  towards  him 
the  admiral  first  directed  his  steps. 

"  How  is  this,  Sancho  of  the  Shipyard-Gate  !"  said  the 
great  navigator,  u  thou  lookest  on  this  glorious  scene  as 
coolly  as  thou  wouldst  regard  a  street  in  Moguer,  or  a  field 
in  Andalusia?" 

"  Senor  Don  Almirante,  the  same  hand  made  both. 
This  is  not  the  first  island  on  which  I  have  landed ;  noi 
are  yonder  naked  savages  the  first  men  I  have  seen  who 
were  not  dressed  in  scarlet  doublets." 

"  But  hast  thou  no  feeling  for  success — no  gratitude  to 
God  for  this  vast  discovery?  Reflect,  my  friend,  we  are 
on  the  confines  of  Asia,  and  yet  have  we  come  here  by 
holding  a  western  course." 

"That  the  last  is  true,  Senor,  I  will  swear  myself,  hav 
ing  held  the  tiller  in  mine  own  hands  no  small  part  of  the 
way.  Do  you  think,  Senor  Don  Almirante,  that  we  have 
come  far  enough  in  this  direction  to  have  got  to  the  back 
side  of  the  earth,  or  to  stand,  as  it  might  be,  under  the 
very  feet  of  Spain  ?" 

"  By  no  means.  The  realms  of  the  Great  Khan  will 
scarcely  occupy  the  position  you  mean." 

"  Then,  Sefior,  what  will  there  be  to  prevent  the  doblas 
of  that  country  from  falling  off  into  the  air,  leaving  us  our 
journey  for  our  pains  ?" 

"  The  same  power  that  will  prevent  our  caravels  from 
dropping  out  of  the  sea,  and  the  water  itself  from  follow- 
ing.  These  things  depend  on  natural  laws,  my  friend,  and 
nature  is  a  legislator  that  will  be  respected." 

"  It  is  all  Moorish  to  me,"  returned  Sancho,  rubbing  his 
eye-brows.  "  Here  we  are,  of  a  verity,  if  not  actually  be 
neath  the  feet  of  Spain,  standing,  as  it  might  be,  on  the 
side  of  the  house ;  and  yet  I  find  no  more  difficulty  in 
keeping  on  an  even  keel,  than  I  did  in  Moguer — by  Santa 
Clara !  less,  in  some  particulars,  good  solid  Xeres  wine  be 
ing  far  less  plenty  here  than  there." 

"  Thou  art  no  Moor,  Sancho,  although  thy  father's  name 
be  a  secret.  And  thou,  Pepe,  what  dost  thou  find  in  those 
flowers  to  draw  thy  attention  so  early  from  all  these  won 
ders  ?" 

"Senor,  I  gather  them  for  Monica.     A  female  hath  a 


346  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

more  delicate  feeling  than  a  man,  and  she  will  be  glad  to 
see  with  what  sort  of  ornaments  God  hath  adorned  the 
Indies." 

"Dost  thou  fancy,  Pepe,  that  thy  love  can  keep  those 
flowers  in  bloom,  until  the  good  caravel  shall  recross  the 
Atlantic  ?"  demanded  Luis,  laughing. 

"  Who  knoweth,  Senor  Gutierrez  1  A  warm  heart 
rnaketh  a  thriving  nursery.  You  would  do  well,  too,  if 
you  prefer  any  Castilian  lady  to  all  others,  to  bethink  you 
of  her  beauty,  and  gather  some  of  these  rare  plants  to 
deck  her  hair." 

Columbus  now  turned  away,  the  natives  seeming  dis 
posed  to  approach  the  strangers,  while  Luis  remained  near 
the  young  sailor,  who  still  continued  to  collect  the  plants  of 
the  tropics.  In  a  minute  our  hero  was  similarly  employed ; 
and  long  ere  the  admiral  and  the  wondering  islanders  had 
commenced  their  first  parly,  he  had  arranged  a  gorgeous 
bouquet^  which  he  already  fancied  in  the  glossy  dark  hair 
of  Mercedes. 

The  events  of  a  public  nature  that  followed,  are  too  fa 
miliar  to  every  intelligent  reader  to  need  repetition  here. 
After  passing  a  short  time  at  San  Salvador,  Columbus  pro 
ceeded  to  other  islands,  led  on  by  curiosity,  and  guided  by 
real  or  fancied  reports  of  the  natives,  until  the  28th,  when 
he  reached  that  of  Cuba.  Here  he  imagined,  for  a  time, 
that  he  had  found  the  continent,  and  he  continued  coasting 
it,  first  in  a  north-westerly,  and  then  in  a  south-easterly 
direction,  for  near  a  month.  Familiarity  with  the  novel 
scenes  that  offered  soon  lessened  their  influence,  and  the 
inbred  feelings  of  avarice  and  ambition  began  to  resume 
their  sway  in  the  bosoms  of  several  of  those  who  had  been 
foremost  in  manifesting  their  submission  to  the  admiral, 
when  the  discovery  of  land  so  triumphantly  proved  the  jus 
tice  of  his  theories,  and  the  weakness  of  their  own  misgiv 
ings.  Among  others  who  thus  came  under  the  influence 
of  their  nature,  was  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  who  finding 
himself  almost  entirely  excluded  from  the  society  of  the 
young  Count  of  Llera,  in  whose  eyes  he  perceived  he  filled 
but  a  very  subordinate  place,  fell  back  on  his  own  local 
importance,  and  began  to  envy  Columbus  a  glory  that  he 
now  fancied  he  might  have  secured  for  himself.  Hot  words 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  347 

had  passed  between  the  admiral  and  himself,  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  before  the  land  was  made,  and  every  day 
something  new  occurred  to  increase  the  coldness  between 
them. 

It  forms  no  part  of  this  work  to  dwell  on  the  events  that 
followed,  as  the  adventurers  proceeded  from  island  to  island, 
port  to  port,  and  river  to  river.  It  was  soon  apparent  that 
very  important  discoveries  had  been  made ;  and  the  adven 
turers  were  led  on  day  by  day,  pursuing  their  investigations, 
and  following  directions  that  were  ill  comprehended,  but 
which,  it  was  fancied,  pointed  to  mines  of  gold.  Every- 
where  they  met  with  a  gorgeous  and  bountiful  nature, 
scenery  that  fascinated  the  eye,  and  a  climate  that  soothed 
the  senses ;  but,  as  yet,  man  was  found  living  in  the  sim 
plest  condition  of  the  savage  state.  The  delusion  of  being 
in  the  Indies  was  general,  and  every  intimation  that  fell 
from  those  untutored  beings,  whether  by  word  or  sign,  was 
supposed  to  have  some  reference  to  the  riches  of  the  east. 
All  believed  that,  if  not  absolutely  within  the  kingdom 
of  the  Great  Khan,  they  were  at  least  on  its  confines. 
Under  such  circumstances,  when  each  day  actually  pro 
duced  new  scenes,  promising  still  greater  novelties,  few  be 
thought  them  of  Spain,  unless  it  were  in  connexion  with 
the  glory  of  returning  to  her,  successful  and  triumphant. 
Even  Luis  dwelt  less  intently  in  his  thoughts  on  Mercedes, 
suffering  her  image,  beautiful  as  it  was,  to  be  momentarily 
supplanted  by  the  unusual  spectacles  that  arose  before  his 
physical  sight  in  such  constant  and  unwearied  succession. 
Little  substantial,  beyond  the  fertile  soil  and  genial  climate, 
offered,  it  is  true,  in  the  way  of  realizing  all  the  bright  ex 
pectations  of  the  adventurers  in  connexion  with  pecuniary 
advantages ;  but  each  moment  was  fraught  with  hope,  and 
no  one  knew  what  a  day  would  bring  forth. 

Two  agents  were  at  length  sent  into  the  interior  to  make 
discoveries,  and  Columbus  profited  by  the  occasion  to  ca 
reen  his  vessels.  About  the  "time  when  this  mission  was 
expected  to  return,  Luis  sallied  forth  with  a  party  of  armed 
men  to  meet  it,  Sancho  making  one  of  his  escort.  The 
ambassadors  were  met  on  their  way  back  at  a  short  day's 
march  from  the  vessels,  accompanied  by  a  few  of  the  na 
tives,  who  were  following  with  intense  curiosity,  expecting 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE, 

at  each  moment  to  see  their  unknown  visiters  take  Their 
flight  towards  heaven.  A  short  halt  was  made  for  the  pur 
pose  of  refreshing  themselves,  after  the  two  parties  had 
joined  ;  and  Sancho,  as  reckless  of  danger  on  the  land  as 
on  the  ocean,  stalked  into  a  village  that  lay  near  the  halt 
ing  place.  Here  he  endeavoured  to  make  himself  as  agree 
able  to  the  inhabitants,  as  one  of  his  appearance  very  welt 
could,  by  means  of  signs.  Sancho  figured  in  this  little 
hamlet  under  some  such  advantages  as  those  that  are  en 
joyed  in  the  country  by  a  great  man  from  town ;  the  spec 
tators  not  being,  as  yet,  sufficiently  sophisticated  to  distin 
guish  between  the  cut  of  a  doublet  and  the  manner  of  wear 
ing  it,  as  between  a  clown  and  a  noble.  He  had  not  been 
many  minutes  playing  the  grandee  among  these  simple  be 
ings,  when  they  seemed  desirous  of  offering  to  him  some  mark 
of  particular  distinction.  Presently,  a  man  appeared,  hold 
ing  certain  dark-looking  and  dried  leaves,  which  he  held 
out  to  the  hero  of  the  moment  in  a  deferential  manner,  as 
a  Turk  would  offer  his  dried  sweet-meats,  or  an  American 
his  cake.  Sancho  was  about  to  accept  the  present,  though 
he  would  greatly  have  preferred  a  dobla,  of  which  he  had 
not  seen  any  since  the  last  received  from  the  admiral,  when 
a  forward  movement  was  made  by  most  of  the  Cubans, 
who  humbly,  and  with  emphasis,  uttered  the  word  "  tobacco' 
— "  tobacco."  On  this  hint,  the  person  who  held  forth  tho 
offering  drew  back,  repeated  the  same  word  in  an  apologiz 
ing  manner,  and  set  about  making  what,  it  was  now  plain, 
was  termed  a  "  tobacco,"  in  the  language  of  that  country. 
This  was  soon  effected,  by  rolling  up  the  leaves  in  the  form 
of  a  rude  segar,  when  a  "  tobacco,"  duly  manufactured, 
was  offered  to  the  seaman.  Sancho  took  the  present,  nod 
ded  his  head  condescendingly,  repeated  the  words  himself, 
in  the  best  manner  he  could,  and  thrust  the  "  tobacco"  into 
his  pocket.  This  movement  evidently  excited  some  sur 
prise  among  the  spectators,  but,  after  a  little  consultation, 
one  of  them  lighted  an  end  of  a  roll,  applied  the  other  to 
his  mouth,  and  began  to  puff  forth  volumes  of  a  fragrant 
light  smoke,  not  only  to  his  own  infinite  satisfaction,  but 
seemingly  to  that  of  all  around  him.  Sancho  attempted  an 
imitation,  which  resulted,  as  is  common  with  the  tyro  in 
this  accomplishment,  in  his  reeling  back  to  his  party  with 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  349 

the  pallid  countenance  of  an  opium-chewer,  and  a  nausea 
that  he  had  not  experienced  since  the  day  he  first  ventured 
beyond  the  bar  of  Saltes,  to  issue  on  the  troubled  surface 
of  the  Atlantic. 

This  little  scene  might  be  termed  the  introduction  of  the 
well-known  American  weed  into  civilized  society,  the  misap 
prehension  of  the  Spaniards,  touching  the  appellation, 
transferring  the  name  of  the  roll  to  the  plant  itself.  Thus 
did  Sancho,  of  the  ship-yard  gate,  become  the  first  Christian 
tobacco  smoker,  an  accomplishment  in  which  he  was  so 
soon  afterwards  rivalled  by  some  of  the  greatest  men  of 
his  age,  and  which  has  extended  down  to  our  own  times. 

On  the  return  of  his  agents,  Columbus  again  sailed, 
pushing  his  way  along  the  north  shore  of  Cuba.  While 
struggling  against  the  trades,  with  a  view  to  get  to  the  east 
ward,  he  found  the  wind  too  fresh,  and  determined  to  bear 
up  for  a  favourite  haven  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  that  he  had 
named  Puerto  del  Principe.  With  this  view  a  signal  was 
made  to  call  the  Pinta  down,  that  vessel  being  far  to  wind 
ward  ;  and,  as  night  was  near,  lights  were  carried  in  order 
to  enable  Martin  Alonzo  to  close  with  his  commander. 
The  next  morning,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  when  Columbus 
came  on  deck,  he  cast  a  glance  around  him,  and  beheld  the 
Nina,  hove-to  under  his  lee,  but  no  signs  of-  the  other 
caravel. 

"  Have  none  seen  the  Pinta  ?"  demanded  the  admiral, 
hastily,  of  Sancho,  who  stood  at  the  helm. 

"  Senor,  /  did,  as  long  as  eyes  could  see  a  vessel  that 
was  striving  to  get  out  of  view.  Master  Martin  Alonzo 
hath  disappeared  in  the  eastern  board,  while  we  have  been 
lying-to,  here,  in  waiting  for  him  to  come  down." 

Columbus  now  perceived  that  he  was  deserted  by  the 
very  man  who  had  once  shown  so  much  zeal  in  his  behalf, 
and  who  had  given,  in  the  act,  new  proof  of  the  manner  in 
which  friendship  vanishes  before  self-interest  and  cupidity. 
There  had  been  among  the  adventurers  many  reports 
of  the  existence  of  gold  mines,  obtained  from  the  descrip 
tions  of  the  natives ;  and  the  admiral  made  no  doubt  that 
his  insubordinate  follower  had  profited  by  the  superior  sail 
ing  of  his  caravel,  to  keep  the  wind,  in  the  expectation  to 
be  the  first  to  reach  the  Eldorado  of  their  wishes.  As  the 
30 


350  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

weather  still  continued  unfavourable,  however,  the  Santa 
Maria  and  the  Nina  returned  to  port,  where  they  waited  for 
a  change.  This  separation  occurred  on  the  21st  of  No 
vember,  at  which  moment  the  expedition  had  not  advanced 
beyond  the  north  coast  of  Cuba. 

From  this  time  until  the  sixth  of  the  following  month, 
Columbus  continued  his  examination  of  this  noble  island, 
when  he  crossed  what  has  since  been  termed  the  "  wind 
ward  passage,"  and  first  touched  on  the  shores  of  Hayti. 
All  this  time,  there  had  been  as  much  communication  as 
circumstances  would  allow,  with  the  aborigines,  the  Span 
iards  making  friends  wherever  they  went,  as  a  consequence 
of  the  humane  and  prudent  measures  of  the  admiral.  It 
is  true  that  violence  had  been  done,  in  a  few  instances,  by 
seizing  half  a  dozen  individuals  in  order  to  carry  them  to 
Spain,  as  offerings  to  Dona  Isabella ;  but  this  act  was  easily 
reconcilable  to  usage  in  that  age,  equally  on  account  of 
the  deference  that  was  paid  to  the  kingly  authority,  and  on 
the  ground  that  the  seizures  were  for  the  good  of  the  cap 
tives'  souls. 

The  adventurers  were  more  delighted  with  the  bold,  and 
yet  winning,  aspect  of  Hayti,  than  they  had  been  with  even 
the  adjacent  island  of  Cuba.  The  inhabitants  were  found 
to  be  handsomer  and  more  civilized  than  any  they  had  yet 
seen,  while  they  retained  the  gentleness  and  docility  that 
had  proved  so  pleasing  to  the  admiral.  Gold,  also,  was 
seen  among  them  in  considerable  quantities ;  and  the 
Spaniards  set  on  foot  a  trade  of  some  extent,  in  which  the 
usual  incentive  of  civilized  man  was  the  great  aim  of  one 
side,  and  hawk's-bells  appear  to  have  been  the  principal 
desideratum  with  the  other. 

In  this  manner,  and  in  making  hazardous  advances 
along  the  coast,  the  admiral  was  occupied  until  the  20-th  of 
the  month,  when  he  reached  a  point  that  was  said  to  be  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  residence  of  the  Great  Cacique  of  all 
that  portion  of  the  island.  This  prince,  whose  name,  as 
spelt  by  the  Spaniards,  was  Guacanagari,  had  many  tribu 
tary  caciques,  and  was  understood,  from  the  half-intelligible 
descriptions  of  his  subjects,  to  be  a  monarch  that  was  much 
beloved.  On  the  22d,  while  still  lying  in  the  Bay  of  Acul, 
where  the  vessels  had  anchored  two  days  previously,  a 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  351 

large  canoe  was  seen  entering  the  haven.  It  was  shortly 
after  announced  to  the  admiral  that  this  boat  contained  an 
ambassador  from  the  Great  Cacique,  who  brought  presents 
from  his  master,  with  a  request  that  the  vessels  would  move 
a  league  or  two  farther  east,  and  anchor  off  the  town  in 
habited  by  the  prince  himself.  The  wind  preventing  an 
immediate  compliance,  a  messenger  was  dispatched  with  a 
suitable  answer,  and  the  ambassador  returned.  Fatigued 
with  idleness,  anxious  to  see  more  of  the  interior,  and  im 
pelled  by  a  constitutional  love  of  adventure,  Luis,  who  had 
struck  up  a  hasty  friendship  with  a  yoimg  man  called  Mat- 
tinao,  who  attended  the  ambassador,  asked  permission  to 
accompany  him,  taking  his  passage  in  the  canoe.  Columbus 
gave  his  consent  to  this  proposal  with  a  good  deal  of  re 
luctance,  the  rank  and  importance  of  our  hero  inducing 
him  to  avoid  the  consequences  of  any  treachery  or  acci 
dent.  The  importunity  of  Luis  finally  prevailed,  how 
ever,  and  he  departed  with  many  injunctions  to  be  discreet, 
being  frequently  admonished  of  the  censure  that  would  await 
the  admiral  in  the  event  of  anything  serious  occurring. 
As  a  precaution,  too,  Sancho  Mundo  was  directed  to  ac 
company  the  young  man,  in  this  chivalrous  adventure,  in 
the  capacity  of  an  esquire. 

No  weapon  more  formidable  than  a  blunt  arrow  having 
yet  been  seen  in  the  hands  of  the  natives,  the  young 
Count  de  Llera  declined  taking  his  mail,  going  armed  only 
with  a  trusty  sword,  the  temper  of  which  had  been  tried  on 
many  a  Moorish  corslet  and  helm,  in  his  foot  encounters, 
and  protected  by  a  light  buckler.  An  arquebuse  had  been 
put  into  his  hand,  but  he  refused  it,  as  a  weapon  unsuited 
to  knightly  hands,  and  as  betraying  a  distrust  that  was  not 
merited  by  the  previous  conduct  of  the  natives.  Sancho, 
however,  was  less  scrupulous,  and  accepted  the  weapon. 
In  order,  moreover,  to  divert  the  attention  of  his  followers 
from  a  concession  that  the  admiral  felt  to  be  a  departure 
from  his  own  rigid  laws,  Luis  and  his  companions  landed 
and  entered  the  canoe  at  a  point  concealed  from  the  vessels, 
in  order  that  their  absence  might  not  be  known.  It  is  owing 
to  these  circumstances,  as  well  as  to  the  general  mystery 
that  was  thrown  about  the  connexion  of  the  young  grandee 
with  the  expedition,  that  the  occurrences  we  are  about  to 


352  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

relate  were  never  entered  by  the  admiral  in  his  journal, 
and  have,  consequently,  escaped  the  prying  eyes  of  the 
various  historians  who  have  subsequently  collected  so  much 
from  that  pregnant  document. 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 

*  Thou  seemest  to  fancy's  eye 

An  animated  blossom  born  in  air ; 
Which  breathes  and  bourgeons  in  the  golden  sky, 
And  sheds  its  odours  there." 

SUTERMEISTER. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  his  native  resolution,  and  an  indif 
ference  to  danger  that  amounted  to  recklessness,  Luis  did 
not  find  himself  alone  with  the  Haytians  without,  at  least, 
a  lively  consciousness  of  the  novelty  of  his  situation. 
Still,  nothing  occurred  to  excite  uneasiness,  and  he  con 
tinued  his  imperfect  communications  with  his  new  friends, 
occasionally  throwing  in  a  remark  to  Sancho  in  Spanish, 
who  merely  wanted  encouragement  to  discourse  by  the 
hour.  Instead  of  following  the  boat  of  the  Santa  Maria, 
on  board  which  the  ambassador  had  embarked,  the  canoe 
pushed  on  several  leagues  farther  east,  it  being  understood 
that  Luis  was  not  to  present  himself  in  the  town  of  Gua- 
canagari,  until  after  the  arrival  of  the  ships,  when  he  was 
to  rejoin  his  comrades  stealthily,  or  in  a  way  not  to  attract 
attention. 

Our  hero  would  not  have  been  a  true  lover,  had  he  re 
mained  indifferent  to  the  glories  of  the  natural  scenery  that 
lay  spread  before  his  eyes,  as  he  thus  coasted  the  shores 
of  Espanola.  The  boldness  of  the  landscape,  as  in  the 
Mediterranean,  was  relieved  by  the  softness  of  a  low  lati 
tude,  which  throws  some  such  witchery  around  rocks  and 
promontories,  as  a  sunny  smile  lends  to  female  beauty. 
More  than  once  did  he  burst  out  into  exclamations  of  de 
light,  and  as  often  did  Sancho  respond  in  the  same  temper, 
if  not  exactly  in  the  same  language,  the  latter  conceiving 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  353 

it  to  be  a  sort  of  duty  to  echo  all  that  the  young  noble  said, 
in  the  way  of  poetry. 

"  I  take  it,  Senor  Conde,"  observed  the  seaman,  when 
they  had  reached  a  spot  several  leagues  beyond  that  where 
the  launch  of  the  ship  had  put  to  shore ;  "  1  take  it  for 
granted,  Senor  Conde,  that  your  excellency  knoweth 
whither  these  naked  gentry  are  paddling,  all  this  time. 
They  seem  in  a  hurry,  and  have  a  port  in  their  minds,  if 
it  be  not  in  view." 

"  Art  thou  uneasy,  friend  Sancho,  that  thou  puttest  thy 
question  thus  earnestly  ?" 

"  If  I  am,  Don  Luis,  it  is  altogether  on  account  of  the 
family  of  Bobadilla,  which  would  lose  its  head,  did  any 
mishap  befall  your  excellency.  What  is  it  to  Sancho,  of 
the  ship-yard  gate,  whether  he  is  married  to  some  princess 
in  Cipango,  and  gets  to  be  adopted  by  the  Great  Khan,  or 
whether  he  is  an  indifferent  mariner  out  of  Moguer  ?  It  is 
very  much  as  if  one  should  offer  him  the  choice  between 
wearing  a  doublet  and  eating  garlic,  and  going  naked  on 
sweet  fruits  and  a  full  stomach.  I  take  it,  Senor,  your 
excellency  would  not  willingly  exchange  the  castle  of 
Llera  for  the  palace  of  this  Great  Cacique  ?" 

"  Thou  art  right,  Sancho ;  even  rank  must  depend  on 
the  state  of  society  in  which  we  live.  A  Castilian  noble 
cannot  envy  a  Haytian  sovereign." 

"  More  especially,  since  my  lord,  the  Senor  Don  Almi- 
rante,  hath  publicly  proclaimed,  that  our  gracious  lady, 
the  Dona  Isabella,  is  henceforth  and  for  ever  to  be  queen 
over  him,"  returned  Sancho,  with  a  knowing  glance  of  the 
eye.  "Little  do  these  worthy  people  understand  the 
honour  that  is  in  store  for  them,  and  least  of  all,  his  High 
ness,  King  Guacanagari !" 

"  Hush,  Sancho,  and  keep  thy  unpleasant  intimations  in 
thine  own  breast.  Our  friends  turn  the  head  of  the  canoe 
towards  yonder  river's  mouth,  and  seem  bent  on  landing." 

By  this  time,  indeed,  the  natives  had  coasted  as  far  as 
they  intended,  and  were  turning  in  towards  the  entrance  of 
a  small  stream,  which,  taking  its  rise  among  the  noble 
mountains  that  were  grouped  inland,  found  its  way  through 
a  smiling  valley  to  the  ocean.  This  stream  was  neither 
broad  nor  deep,  but  it  contained  far  more  than  water  suf- 
30* 


354  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

ficient  for  any  craft  used  by  the  natives.  Its  banks  were 
fringed  with  bushes ;  and  as  they  glided  up  it,  Luis  saw 
fifty  sites  where  he  thought  he  could  be  content  to  pass  his 
life,  provided,  always,  that  it  might  possess  the  advantage 
of  Mercedes's  presence.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add, 
too,  that  in  all  these  scenes  he  fancied  his  mistress  attired 
in  the  velvets  and  laces  that  were  then  so  much  used  by 
high-born  dames,  and  that  he  saw  her  natural  grace,  em 
bellished  by  the  courtly  ease  and  polished  accessaries  of 
one  who  lived  daily,  if  not  hourly,  in  the  presence  of  her 
royal  mistress. 

As  the  canoe  shut  in  the  coast,  by  entering  between  the 
two  points  that  formed  the  river's  mouth,  Sancho  pointed 
out  to  the  young  noble  a  small  fleet  of  canoes,  that  was 
coming  down  before  the  wind  from  the  eastward,  apparently 
bound,  like  so  many  more  they  had  seen  that  day,  to  the 
bay  of  Acul,  on  a  visit  to  the  wonderful  strangers.  The 
natives  in  the  canoe  also  beheld  this  little  flotilla,  which 
was  driving  before  the  wind  under  cotton  sails,  and  by  their 
smiles  and  signs  showed  that  they  gave  it  the  same  desti 
nation.  About  this  time,  too,  or  just  as  they  entered  the 
mouth  of  the  stream,  Mattinao  drew  from  under  a  light 
cotton  robe,  that  he  occasionally  wore,  a  thin  circlet  of 
pure  gold,  which  he  placed  upon  his  head,  in  the  manner 
of  a  coronet.  This  Luis  knew  was  a  token  that  he  was  a 
cacique,  one  of  those  who  were  tributary  to  Guacanagari, 
and  he  arose  to  salute  him  at  this  evidence  of  his  rank,  an 
act  that  was  imitated  by  all  of  the  Haytians  also.  From 
this  assumption  of  state,  Luis  rightly  imagined  that  Mat 
tinao  had  now  entered  within  the  limits  of  a  territory  that 
acknowledged  his  will.  From  the  moment  that  the  young 
cacique  threw  aside  his  incognito,  he  ceased  to  paddle,  but 
assuming  an  air  of  authority  and  dignity,  he  attempted  to 
converse  with  his  guest  in  the  best  manner  their  imperfect 
means  of  communication  would  allow.  He  often  pro 
nounced  the  word,  Ozema,  and  Luis  inferred  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  used  it,  that  it  was  the  name  of  a 
favourite  wife,  it  having  been  already  ascertained  by  the 
Spaniards,  or  at  least  it  was  thought  to  be  ascertained,  that 
the  caciques  indulged  in  polygamy,  while  they  rigidly  re 
stricted  their  subjects  to  one  wife. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  355 

The  canoe  ascended  the  river  several  mibs,  until  it 
reached  one  of  those  tropical  valleys  in  which  nature  seems 
to  expend  her  means  of  rendering  this  earth  inviting. 
While  the  scenery  had  much  of  the  freedom  of  a  wilderness, 
the  presence  of  man  for  centuries  had  deprived  it  of  all  its 
ruder  and  more  savage  features.  Like  those  who  tenanted 
it,  the  spot  possessed  the  perfection  of  native  grace,  unfet 
tered  and  uninvaded  by  any  of  the  more  elaborate  devices 
of  human  expedients.  The  dwellings  were  not  without 
beauty,  though  simple  as  the  wants  of  their  owners ;  the 
flowers  bloomed  in  mid-winter,  and  the  generous  branches 
still  groaned  with  the  weight  of  their  nutritious  and  palata 
ble  fruits. 

Mattinao  was  received  by  his  people  with  an  eager  cu 
riosity,  blended  with  profound  respect.  His  mild  subjects 
crowded  around  Luis  and  Sancho,  with  some  such  wonder 
as  a  civilized  man  would  gaze  at  one  of  the  prophets,  were 
he  to  return  to  earth  in  the  flesh.  They  had  heard  of  the 
arrival  of  the  ships,  but  they  did  not  the  less  regard  their 
inmates  as  visitors  from  heaven.  This,  probably,  was  not 
the  opinion  of  the  more  elevated  in  rank,  for,  even  in  the 
savage  state,  the  vulgar  mind  is  far  from  being  that  of  the 
favoured  few.  Whether  it  was  owing  to  his  greater  facility 
of  character,  and  to  habits  that  more  easily  adapted  them 
selves  to  the  untutored  notions  of  the  Indians,  or  to  their 
sense  of  propriety,  Sancho  soon  became  the  favourite  with 
the  multitude ;  leaving  the  Count  of  Llera  more  especially 
to  the  care  of  Mattinao,  and  the  principal  men  of  his  tribe. 
Owing  to  this  circumstance,  the  two  Spaniards  were  soon 
separated,  Sancho  being  led  away  by  the  oi  polloi  to  a  sort 
of  square  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  leaving  Don  Luis  in 
the  habitation  of  the  Cacique. 

No  sooner  did  Mattinao  find  himself  in  the  company  of 
our  hero,  and  that  of  two  of  his  confidential  chiefs,  than  the 
name  of  Ozema  was  repeated  eagerly  among  the  Indians. 
A  rapid  conversation  followed,  a  messenger  was  dispatched, 
Luis  knew  not  whither,  and  then  the  chiefs  took  their  de 
parture,  leaving  the  young  Castillan  alone  with  the  Cacique. 
Laying  aside  his  golden  band,  and  placing  a  cotton  robe 
about  his  person,  which  had  hitherto  been  nearly  naked, 
Mattinao  made  a  sign  for  his  companion  to  follow  him,  and 


356  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

left  the  building.  Throwing  the  buckler  over  his  shoulder, 
and  adjusting  the  belt  of  his  sword  in  a  way  that  the 
weapon  should  not  incommode  him  in  walking,  Luis  obeyed 
with  as  much  confidence  as  he  would  have  followed  a  friend 
along  the  streets  of  Seville. 

Mattinao  led  the  way  through  a  wilderness  of  sweets, 
where  tropical  plants  luxuriated  beneath  the  brandies  of 
trees  loaded  with  luscious  fruits,  holding  his  course  by  a  foot 
path  which  lay  on  the  banks  of  a  torrent  that  flowed  from 
a  ravine,  and  poured  its  waters  into  the  river  below.  The 
distance  he  went  might  have  been  half  a  mile.  Here  he 
reached  a  cluster  of  rustic  dwellings  that  occupied  a  lovely 
terrace  on  a  hill-side,  where  they  overlooked  the  larger  town 
below  the  river,  and  commanded  a  view  of  the  distant  ocean. 
Luis  sa\v  at  a  glance  that  this  sweet  retreat  was  devoted  to 
the  uses  of  the  gentler  sex,  and  he  doubted  not  that  it  formed 
a  species  of  seraglio,  set  apart  for  the  wives  of  the  young 
cacique.  He  was  led  into  one  of  the  principal  dwellings, 
where  the  simple  but  grateful  refreshments  used  by  the  na 
tives,  were  again  offered  to  him. 

The  intercourse  of  a  month  had  not  sufficed  to  render 
either  party  very  familiar  with  the  language  of  the  other. 
A  few  of  the  commoner  words  of  the  Indians  had  been 
caught  by  the  Spaniards,  and  perhaps  Luis  was  one  of  the 
most  ready  in  their  use ;  still,  it  is  highly  probable,  he  was 
oftener  wrong  than  right,  even  when  he  felt  the  most  con 
fident  of  his  success.  But  the  language  of  friendship  is 
not  easily  mistaken,  and  our  hero  had  not  entertained  a 
feeling  of  distrust  from  the  time  he  left  the  ships,  down  to 
the  present  moment. 

Mattinao  had  dispatched  a  messenger  to  an  adjacent 
dwelling  when  he  entered  that  in  which  Luis  was  now  en 
tertained,  and  when  sufficient  time  had  been  given  for  the 
last  to  refresh  himself,  the  cacique  arose,  and  by  a  courteous 
gesture,  such  as  might  have  become  a  master  of  ceremo 
nies  in  the  court  of  Isabella,  he  again  invited  the  young 
grandee  to  follow.  They  took  their  way  along  the  terrace,  to 
a  house  larger  than  common,  and  which  evidently  contained 
several  subdivisions,  as  they  entered  into  a  sort  of  ante 
room.  Here  they  remained  but  a  minute;  the  cacique, 
after  a  short  parley  with  a  female,  removing  a  curtain  in- 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  357 

geniously  made  of  sea-weed,  and  leading  the  way  to  an 
inner  apartment.  It  had  but  a  single  occupant,  whose 
character  Luis  fancied  to  be  announced  in  the  use  of  the 
single  word  "  Ozema,"  that  the  cacique  uttered  in  a  low 
affectionate  tone,  as  they  entered.  Luis  bowed  to  this  In 
dian  beauty,  as  profoundly  as  he  could  have  made  his 
reverence  to  a  high-born  damsel  of  Spain  ;  then,  recovering 
himself,  he  fastened  one  long  steady  look  of  admiration  on 
the  face  of  the  curious  but  half-frightened  young  creature 
who  stood  before  him,  and  exclaimed,  in  such  tones  as  only 
indicate  rapture,  admiration  and  astonishment  mingled — 

"  Mercedes !" 

The  young  cacique  repeated  this  name  in  the  best  man 
ner  he  could,  evidently  mistaking  it  for  a  Spanish  term  to 
express  admiration,  or  satisfaction ;  while  the  trembling 
young  thing,  who  was  the  subject  of  all  this  wonder,  shrunk 
back  a  step,  blushed,  laughed,  and  muttered  in  her  soft  low 
musical  voice,  "  Mercedes,"  as  the  innocent  take  up  and 
renew  any  source  of  their  harmless  pleasures.  She  then 
stood,  with  her  arms  folded  meekly  on  her  bosom,  resem 
bling  a  statue  of  wonder.  But  it  may  be  necessary  to  ex 
plain  why,  at  a  moment  so  peculiar,  the  thoughts  and  tongue 
of  Luis  had  so  suddenly  resorted  to  his  mistress.  In  order 
to  do  this,  we  shall  first  attempt  a  short  description  of  the 
person  and  appearance  of  Ozema,  as  was,  in  fact,  the  name 
of  the  Indian  beauty. 

All  the  accounts  agree  in  describing  the  aborigines  of 
the  West  Indies,  as  being  singularly  well  formed,  and  of  a 
natural  grace  in  their  movements,  that  extorted  a  common 
admiration  among  the  Spaniards.  Their  colour  was  not  un 
pleasant,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Hayti,  in  particular,  were 
said  to  be  but  very  little  darker  than  the  people  of  Spain. 
Those  who  were  but  little  exposed  to  the  bright  sun  of  that 
climate,  and  who  dwelt  habitually  beneath  the  shades  of 
groves,  or  in  the  retirement  of  their  dwellings,  like  persons 
of  similar  habits  in  Europe,  might,  by  comparison,  have 
even  been  termed  fair.  Such  was  the  fact  with  Ozema, 
who,  instead  of  being  the  wife  of  the  young  cacique,  was 
his  only  sister.  According  to  the  laws  of  Hayti,  the  au 
thority  of  a  cacique  was  transmitted  through  females,  and 
a  son  of  Ozema  was  looked  forward  to,  as  the  heir  of  his 


358  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

uncle.  Owing  to  this  fact,  and  to  the  circumstances  that 
the  true  royal  line,  if  a  term  so  dignified  can  be  applied  to 
a  state  of  society  so  simple,  was  reduced  to  these  two  in 
dividuals,  Ozema  had  been  more  than  usually  fostered  by 
the  tribe,  leaving  her  free  from  care,  and  as  little  exposed 
to  hardships,  as  at  all  comported  with  the  condition  of  her 
people.  She  had  reached  her  eighteenth  year,  without  hav 
ing  experienced  any  of  those  troubles  and  exposures  which 
are  more  or  less  the  inevitable  companions  of  savage  life ; 
though  it  was  remarked  by  the  Spaniards,  that  all  the  In 
dians  they  had  yet  seen  seemed  more  than  usually  free 
from  evils  of  this  character.  They  owed  this  exemption  to 
the  generous  quality  of  the  soil,  the  genial  warmth  of  the 
climate,  and  the  salubrity  of  the  air.  In  a  word,  Ozema, 
in  her  person,  possessed  just  those  advantages  that  freedom 
from  restraint,  native  graces,  and  wild  luxuriance,  might  be 
supposed  to  lend  the  female  form,  under  the  advantages  of 
a  mild  climate,  a  healthful  and  simple  diet,  and  perfect  ex 
emption  from  exposure,  care,  or  toil.  It  would  not  have 
been  difficult  to  fancy  Eve  such  a  creature,  when  she  first 
appeared  to  Adam,  fresh  from  the  hands  of  her  divine  cre 
ator,  modest,  artless,  timid,  and  perfect. 

The  Haytians  used  a  scanty  dress,  though  it  shocked 
none  of  their  opinions  to  go  forth  in  the  garb  of  nature. 
Still,  few  of  rank  were  seen  without  some  pretensions  to 
attire,  which  was  worn  rather  as  an  ornament,  or  a  mark 
of  distinction,  than  as  necessary  either  to  usage  or  to  com 
fort.  Ozema  herself,  formed  no  exception  to  the  general 
rule.  A  cincture  of  Indian  cloth,  woven  in  gay  colours, 
circled  her  slender  waist,  and  fell  nearly  as  low  as  her 
knees ;  a  robe  of  spotless  cotton,  inartificially  made,  but 
white  as  the  driven  snow,  and  of  a  texture  so  fine  that  it 
might  have  shamed  many  of  the  manufactures  of  our  own 
days,  fell  like  a  scarf  across  a  shoulder,  and  was  loosely 
united  at  the  opposite  side,  dropping  in  folds  nearly  to  the 
ground.  Sandals,  of  great  ingenuity  and  beauty,  protected 
the  soles  of  feet  that  a  queen  might  have  envied  ;  and  a 
large  plate  of  pure  gold,  rudely  wrought,  was  suspended 
from  her  neck  by  a  string  of  small  bui;  gorgeous  shells. 
Bracelets  of  the  latter  were  on  her  pretty  wrists,  and  two 
light  bands  of  gold  encircled  ankles  that  were  as  faultless 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE,  359 

as  those  of  the  Venus  of  Naples.  In  that  region,  the  fine 
ness  of  the  hair  was  thought  the  test  of  birth,  with  bettei 
reason  than  many  imagine  the  feet  and  hands  to  be,  in 
civilized  life.  As  power  and  rank  had  passed  from  female 
to  female  in  her  family,  for  several  centuries,  the  hair  of 
Ozema  was  silken,  soft,  waving,  exuberant,  and  black  as 
jet.  It  covered  her  shoulders,  like  a  glorious  mantle,  and 
fell  as  low  as  her  simple  cincture.  So  light  and  silken  was 
this  natural  veil,  that  its  ends  waved  in  the  gentle  current 
of  air  that  was  rather  breathing  than  blowing  through  the 
apartment. 

Although  this  extraordinary  creature  was  much  the  love* 
liest  specimen  of  young  womanhood  that  Luis  had  seen 
among  the  wild  beauties  of  the  islands,  it  was  not  so  much 
her  graceful  and  well-rounded  form,  or  even  the  charms  of 
face  and  expression,  that  surprised  him,  as  a  decided  and 
accidental  resemblance  to  the  being  he  had  left  in  Spain, 
and  who  had  so  long  been  the  idol  of  his  heart.  This 
resemblance  alone  had  caused  him  to  utter  the  name  of  his 
mistress,  in  the  manner  related.  Could  the  two  have  been 
placed  together,  it  would  have  been  easy  to  detect  marked 
points  of  difference  between  them,  without  being  reduced  to 
compare  the  intellectual  and  thoughtful  expression  of  our 
heroine's  countenance,  with  the  wondering,  doubting,  half- 
startled  look  of  Ozema ;  but  still  the  general  likeness  was 
so  strong,  that  no  person  who  was  familiar  with  the  face  of 
one,  could  fail  to  note  it  on  meeting  with  the  other.  Side  by 
side,  it  would  have  been  discovered  that  the  face  of  Merce 
des  had  the  advantage  in  finesse  and  delicacy ;  that  her 
features  and  brow  were  nobler ;  her  eye  more  illuminated 
oy  the  intelligence  within ;  her  smile  more  radiant  with 
thought  and  the  feelings  of  a  cultivated  woman ;  her  blush 
more  sensitive,  betraying  most  of  the  consciousness  of  con 
ventional  habits ;  and  that  the  expression  generally  was 
much  more  highly  cultivated,  than  that  which  sprung  from 
the  artless  impulses  and  limited  ideas  of  the  young  Hay- 
tian.  Nevertheless,  in  mere  beauty,  in  youth,  and  tint,  and 
outline,  the  disparity  was  scarcely  perceptible,  while  the 
resemblance  was  striking ;  and,  on  the  score  of  animation, 
native  frankness,  ingenuousness,  and  all  that  witchery 
which  ardent  and  undisguised  feeling  lends  to  woman, 


360  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

many  might  have  preferred  the  confiding  abandon  of  the 
beautiful  young  Indian,  to  the  more  trained  and  dignified 
reserve  of  the  Castilian  heiress.  What  in  the  latter  was 
earnest,  high-souled,  native,  but  religious  enthusiasm,  in  the 
other  was  merely  the  outpourings  of  unguided  impulses, 
which,  however  feminine  in  their  origin,  were  but  little 
regulated  in  their  indulgence. 

"  Mercedes !"  exclaimed  our  hero,  when  this  vision  of 
Indian  loveliness  unexpectedly  broke  on  his  sight.  "  Mer 
cedes  !"  repeated  Mattiriao  ;  "  Mercedes  !"  murmured  Oze 
ma,  recoiling  a  step,  blushing,  laughing,  and  then  resuming 
Tier  innocent  confidence,  as  she  several  times  uttered  the 
same  word,  which  she  also  mistook  for  an  expression  of 
admiration,  in  her  own  low,  melodious  voice. 

Conversation  being  out  of  the  question,  there  remained 
nothing  for  the  parties  but  to  express  their  feelings  by  signs 
and  acts  of  amity.  Luis  had  not  come  on  his  little  expe 
dition  unprovided  with  presents.  Anticipating  an  interview 
with  the  wife  of  the  cacique,  he  had  brought  up  from  the 
village  below,  several  articles  that  he  supposed  might  suit 
ner  untutored  fancy.  But  the  moment  he  beheld  the  vision 
that  actually  stood  before  him,  they  all  seemed  unworthy 
of  such  a  being.  In  one  of  his  onsets  against  the  Moors, 
he  had  brought  off  a  turban  of  rich  but  light  cloth,  and  he 
had  kept  it  as  a  trophy,  occasionally  wearing  it,  in  his 
visits  to  the  shore,  out  of  pure  caprice,  and  as  a  sort  of 
ornament  that  might  well  impose  on  the  simple-minded 
natives.  These  vagaries  excited  no  remarks,  as  mariners 
are  apt  to  indulge  their  whims  in  this  manner,  when  far 
from  the  observations  of  those  to  whom  they  habitually 
defer.  This  turban  was  on  his  head  at  the  moment  he 
entered  the  apartment  of  Ozema,  and,  overcome  with  the 
delight  of  finding  so  unexpected  a  resemblance,  and,  pos 
sibly,  excited  by  so  unlooked-for  an  exhibition  of  feminine 
loveliness,  he  gallantly  unrolled  it,  threw  out  the  folds  of 
rich  cloth,  and  cast  it  over  the  shoulders  of  the  beautiful 
Ozema  as  a  mantle. 

The  expressions  of  gratitude  and  delight  that  escaped 
this  unsophisticated  young  creature,  were  warm,  sincere, 
and  undisguised.  She  cast  the  ample  robe  on  the  ground 
before  her,  repeated  the  word  "  Mercedes,"  again  and 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  361 

again,  and  manifested  her  pleasure  with  all  the  warmth  of 
a  generous  and  ingenuous  nature.  If  we  were  to  say  that 
this  display  of  Ozema  was  altogether  free  from  the  child 
like  rapture  that  was,  perhaps,  inseparable  from  her  igno 
rance,  it  would  be  attributing  to  her  benighted  condition  the 
experience  and  regulated  feelings  of  advanced  civilization ; 
but,  notwithstanding  the  guileless  simplicity  with  which  she 
betrayed  her  emotions,  her  delight  was  not  without  much 
of  the  dignity  and  tone  that  usually  mark  the  conduct  of 
the  superior  classes  all  over  the  world.  Luis  fancied  it  as 
graceful  as  it  was  naive  and  charming.  He  endeavoured 
to  imagine  the  manner  in  which  the  Lady  of  Valverde 
might  receive  an  offering  of  precious  stones  from  the  gra 
cious  hands  of  Dona  Isabella,  and  he  even  thought  it  very 
possible  that  the  artless  grace  of  Ozema  was  notYar  behind 
what  he  knew  would  be  the  meek  self-respect,  mingled  with 
grateful  pleasure,  that  Mercedes  could  not  fail  to  exhibit. 

While  thoughts  like  these  were  passing  through  his  mind, 
the  Indian  girl  laid  aside  her  own  less  enticing  robe,  with 
out  a  thought  of  shame,  and  then  she  folded  her  faultless 
form  in  the  cloth  of  the  turban.  This  was  »o  sooner  done, 
with  a  grace  and  freedom  peculiar  to  her  unfettered  mind, 
than  she  drew  the  necklace  of  shells  from  her  person,  and 
advancing  a  step  or  two  towards  our  hero,  extended  the  of 
fering  with  a  half-averted  face,  though  the  laughing  and 
willing  eyes  more  than  supplied  the  place  of  language. 
Luis  accepted  the  gift  with  suitable  eagerness,  nor  did  he 
refrain  from  using  the  Castilian  gallantry  of  kissing  the 
pretty  hand  from  which  he  took  the  bauble. 

The  cacique,  who  had  been  a  pleased  spectator  of  all 
that  passed,  now  signed  for  the  count  to  follow  him,  leading 
the  way  towards  another  dwelling.  Here  Don  Luis  was  in 
troduced  to  other  young  females,  and  to  two  or  three  chil 
dren,  the  former  of  whom,  he  soon  discovered,  were  the 
wives  of  Mattinao,  and  the  latter  his  offspring.  By  dint  of 
gestures,  a  few  words,  and  such  other  means  of  explana 
tion  as  were  resorted  to  between  the  Spaniards  and  the  na 
tives,  he  now  succeeded  in  ascertaining  the  real  affinity 
which  existed  between  the  cacique  and  Ozema.  Our  hero 
felt  a  sensation  like  pleasure  when  he  discovered  that  the 
Indian  beauty  was  not  married ;  and  he  was  fain  to  refer 
31 


362  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

the  feeling — perhaps  justly — to  a  sort  of  jealous  sensitive 
ness  that  grew  out  of  her  resemblance  to  Mercedes. 

The  remainder  of  that,  and  the  whole  of  the  three  fol 
lowing  days,  were  passed  by  Luis  with  his  friend,  the  ca 
cique,  in  this,  the  favourite  and  sacred  residence  of  the 
latter.  Of  course  our  hero  was,  if  anything,  a  subject  of 
greater  interest  to  all  his  hosts,  than  they  could  possibly 
be  to  him.  They  took  a  thousand  innocent  liberties  with  his 
person  ;  examining  his  dress,  and  the  ornaments  he  wore, 
not  failing  to  compare  the  whiteness  of  his  skin  with  the 
redder  tint  of  that  of  Mattinao.  On  these  occasions  Ozema 
was  the  most  reserved  and  shy,  though  her  look  followed 
every  movement,  and  her  pleased  countenance  denoted  the 
interest  she  felt  in  all  that  concerned  the  stranger.  Hours 
at  a  time,  did  Luis  lie  stretched  on  fragrant  mats  near  this 
artless  and  lovely  creature,  studying  the  wayward  expres 
sion  of  her  features,  in  the  fond  hope  of  seeing  stronger 
and  stronger  resemblances  to  Mercedes,  and  sometimes 
losing  himself  in  that  which  was  peculiarly  her  own.  In 
the  course  of  the  time  passed  in  these  dwellings,  efforts 
were  made  by  the  count  to  obtain  some  useful  information 
of  the  island  ;  and  whether  it  was  owing  to  her  superior 
rank,  or  to  a  native  superiority  of  mind,  or  to  a  charm  of 
manner,  he  soon  fancied  that  the  cacique's  beautiful  sister 
succeeded  better  in  making  him  understand  her  meaning, 
than  either  of  the  wives  of  Mattinao,  or  the  cacique  himself. 
To  Ozema,  then,  Luis  put  most  of  his  questions ;  and  ere 
the  day  had  passed,  this  quick-witted  and  attentive  girl  had 
made  greater  progress  in  opening  an  intelligible  understand 
ing  between  the  adventurers  and  her  countrymen,  than  had 
been  accomplished  by  the  communications  of  the  two  pre 
vious  months.  She  caught  the  Spanish  words  with  a  readi 
ness  that  seemed  instinctive,  pronouncing  them  with  an 
accent  that  only  rendered  them  prettier  and  softer  to  the 
ear. 

Luis  de  Bobadilla  was  just  as  good  a  Catholic  as  a  rigid 
education,  a  wandering  life,  and  the  habits  of  the  camp, 
would  be  apt  to  make  one  of  his  rank,  years,  and  tempera 
ment.  Still,  that  was  an  age  in  which  most  laymen  had  a 
deep  reverence  for  religion,  whether  they  actually  submitted 
to  its  purifying  influence,  or  not.  If  there  were  any  free- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  363 

thinkers,  at  all,  they  existed  principally  among  those  who 
passed  their  lives  in  their  closets,  or  were  to  be  found 
among  the  churchmen,  themselves ;  who  often  used  the 
cowl  as  a  hood  to  conceal  their  infidelity.  His  close  asso 
ciation  with  Columbus,  too,  had  contributed  to  strengthen 
our  hero's  tendency  to  believe  in  the  constant  supervision 
of  Providence ;  and  he  now  felt  a  strong  inclination  to 
fancy  that  this  extraordinary  facility  of  Ozema's  in  ac 
quiring  languages,  was  one  of  its  semi-miraculous  provi 
sions,  made  with  a  view  to  further  the  introduction  of  the 
religion  of  the  cross  among  her  people.  Often  did  he 
flatter  himself,  as  he  sat  gazing  into  the  sparkling,  and  yet 
mild,  eyes  of  the  girl,  listening  to  her  earnest  efforts  to 
make  him  comprehend  her  meaning,  that  he  was  to  be  the 
instrument  of  bringing  about  this  great  good,  through  so 
young  and  charming  an  agent.  The  admiral  had  also  en 
joined  on  him  the  importance  of  ascertaining,  if  possible, 
the  position  of  the  mines,  and  he  had  actually  succeeded 
in  making  Ozema  comprehend  his  questions  on  a  subject 
that  was  all-engrossing  with  most  of  the  Spaniards.  Her 
answers  were  less  intelligible,  but  Luis  thought  they  never 
could  be  sufficiently  full ;  flattering  himself,  the  whole  time, 
that  he  was  only  labouring  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of 
Columbws. 

The  day  after  his  arrival,  our  hero  was  treated  to  an  ex 
hibition  of  some  of  the  Indian  games.  These  sports  have 
been  too  often  described  to  need  repetition  here ;  but,  in  all 
their  movements  and  exercises,  which  were  altogether  pa 
cific,  the  young  princess  was  conspicuous  for  grace  and 
skill.  Luis,  too,  was  required  to  show  his  powers,  and 
being  exceedingly  athletic  and  active,  he  easily  bore  away 
the  palm  from  his  friend  Mattinao.  The  young  cacique 
manifested  neither  jealousy  nor  disappointment  at  this  re 
sult,  while  his  sister  laughed  and  clapped  her  hands  with 
delight,  when  he  was  outdone,  even  at  his  own  sports,  by 
the  greater  strength  or  greater  efforts  of  his  guest.  More 
than  once,  the  wives  of  Mattinao  seemed  to  utter  gentle 
reproaches  at  this  exuberance  of  feeling,  but  Ozema  an 
swered  with  smiling  taunts,  and  Luis  thought  her,  at  such 
moments,  more  beautiful  than  even  imagination  could  draw, 
and  perhaps  with  justice ;  for  her  cheeks  were  flushed,  her 


364  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

eyes  became  as  brilliant  as  ornaments  of  jet,  and  the  teeth 
that  were  visible  between  lips  like  cherries,  resembled  rows 
of  ivory.  We  have  said  that  the  eyes  of  Ozema  were 
black,  differing  in  this  particular,  from  the  deep-blue  melan 
choly  orbs  of  the  enthusiastic  Mercedes  ;  but  stilt  they 
were  alike,  so  often  uttering  the  same  feelings,  more  espe 
cially  touching  matters  in  which  Luis  was  concerned. 
More  than  once,  during  the  trial  of  strength,  did  the  young 
man  fancy  that  the  expression  of  the  rapture  which  fairly 
danced  in  the  eyes  of  Ozema,  was  the  very  couHterpart  of 
that  of  the  deep-seated  delight  which  had  so  often  beamed  on 
him,  from  the  glances  of  Mercedes  in  the  tourney  ;  and,  at 
such  times,  it  struck  him  that  the  resemblance  between  the 
two  was  so  strong  as,  after  some  allowance  had  been  made 
for  dress  and  other  sufficiently  striking  circumstances,  to 
render  them  almost  identical. 

The  reader  is  not  to  suppose  from  this,  that  our  hero  was 
actually  inconstant  to  his  ancient  love.  Far  from  it.  Mer 
cedes  was  too  deeply  enshrined  in  his  heart — and  Luis,  with 
all  his  faults,  was  as  warm-hearted  and  true-hearted  a  cava 
lier  as  breathed — to  be  so  easily  dispossessed.  But  he  was 
young,  distant  from  her  he  had  so  long  adored,  and  was, 
withal,  not  altogether  insensible  to  admiration  so  artlessly 
and  winningly  betrayed  by  the  Indian  girl.  Had  there  been 
the  least  immodest  glance,  any  proof  that  art  or  design  lay 
at  the  bottom  of  Ozema's  conduct,  he  would  at  once  have 
taken  the  alarm,  and  been  completely  disenthralled  from 
his  temporary  delusion  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  all  was  so 
frank  and  natural  with  this  artless  girl ;  when  she  most  be 
trayed  the  hold  he  had  taken  of  her  imagination,  it  was 
done  with  a  simplicity  so  obvious,  a  naivete  so  irrepressible, 
and  an  ingenuousness  so  clearly  the  fruit  of  innocence, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  suspect  artifice.  In  a  word,  our 
hero  merely  showed  that  he  was  human,  by  yielding  in  a 
certain  degree  to  a  fascination  that,  under  the  circum 
stances,  might  well  have  made  deeper  inroads  on  the  faith 
even  of  men  who  enjoyed  much  better  reputations  for  sta 
bility  of  purpose. 

In  situations  of  so  much  novelty,  time  flies  swiftly,  and 
Luis  himself  was  astonished  when,  on  looking  back,  he 
remembered  that  he  had  now  been  several  days  with  Mat* 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  36i> 

tinao,  most  of  which  period  had  actually  been  passed  in 
what  might  not  inaptly  be  termed  the  seraglio  of  the  ca 
cique.  Sancho  of  the  ship-yard  gate  had  not  been  in  the 
least  neglected  all  this  time.  He  had  been  a  hero,  in  his 
own  circle,  as  well  as  the  young  noble,  nor  had  he  been  at 
all  forgetful  of  his  duty  on  the  subject  of  searching  for 
gold.  Though  he  had  neither  acquired  a  single  word  of 
the  Haytian  language,  nor  taught  a  syllable  of  Spanish  to 
even  one  of  the  laughing  nymphs  who  surrounded  him,  he 
had  decorated  the  persons  of  many  of  them  with  hawk's- 
bells,  and  had  contrived  to  abstract  from  them,  in  return, 
every  ornament  that  resembled  the  precious  metal,  which 
they  possessed.  This  transfer,  no  doubt,  was  honestly 
effected,  however,  having  been  made  on  that  favourite  prin 
ciple  of  the  free  trade  theorists,  which  maintains  that  trade 
is  merely  an  exchange  of  equivalents ;  overlooking  all  the 
adverse  circumstances  which  may  happen,  just  at  the  mo 
ment,  to  determine  the  standard  of  value.  Sancho  had  his 
notions  of  commerce  as  well  as  the  modern  philosophers, 
and,  as  he  and  Luis  occasionally  met  during  their  sojourn 
with  Mattinao,  he  revealed  a  few  of  his  opinions  on  this 
interesting  subject,  in  one  of  their  interviews. 

"  I  perceive  thou  hast  not  forgotten  thy  passion  for  dob- 
las,  friend  Sancho,"  said  Luis,  laughing,  as  the  old  seaman 
exhibited  the  store  of  dust  and  golden  plates  he  had  col 
lected  ;  "  there  is  sufficient  of  the  metal  in  thy  sack  to  coin 
a  score  of  them,  each  having  the  royal  countenances  of 
our  lord  the  King,  and  our  lady  the  Queen !" 

"  Double  that,  Senor  Conde ;  just  double  that,  and  all  for 
the  price  of  some  seventeen  hawk's-bells,  that  cost  but  a 
handful  of  maravedis.  By  the  mass !  this  is  a  most  just 
and  holy  trade,  and  such  as  it  becomes  us  Christians  to 
carry  on.  Here  are  these  savages,  they  think  no  more  of 
gold  than  your  excellency  thinks  of  a  dead  Moor,  and  to 
be  revenged  on  them,  I  hold  a  hawk's-bell  just  as  cheap. 
Let  them  think  as  poorly  as  they  please  of  their  ornaments 
and  yellow  dust,  they  will  find  me  just  as  willing  to  part 
with  the  twenty  hawk's-bells  that  remain.  Let  them  barter 
away,  they  will  find  me  as  ready  as  they  possibly  can  be, 
to  give  nothing  for  nothing." 

"  Is  this  quite  honest,  Sancho,  to  rob  an  Indian  of  his 
31  * 


366 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


gold,  in  exchange  for  a  bauble  that  copper  so  easily  pur- 
chaseth  ?  Remember  thou  art  a  Castilian,  and  henceforth 
give  two  hawk's-beils,  where  thou  hast  hitherto  given  but 
one." 

"  I  never  forget  my  birth,  Senor,  for  happily  the  ship 
yard  of  Moguer  is  in  old  Spain.  Is  not  the  value  of  a 
thing  to  be  settled  by  what  it  will  bring  in  the  market?  ask 
any  of  our  traders  and  they  will  tell  you  this,  which  is 
clear  as  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  When  the  Venetians  lay 
before  Candia,  grapes  and  figs,  and  Greek  wine,  could  be 
had  for  the  asking  in  that  island,  while  western  articles 
commanded  any  price.  Oh,  nothing  is  plainer  than  the  fact 
that  every  thing  hath  its  price,  and  it  is  real  trade  to  give 
one  worthless  commodity  for  another." 

"  If  it  be  honest  to  profit  by  the  ignorance  of  another," 
answered  Luis,  who  had  a  nobleman's  contempt  for  com 
merce,  "  then  it  is  just  to  deceive  the  child  and  the  idiot." 

"  God  forbid,  and  especially  St.  Andrew,  my  patron,  that 
I  should  do  anything  so  wicked.  Hawk's-bells  are  of  more 
account  than  gold,  in  Hayti,  Senor,  and  happening  to  know 
it,  I  am  willing  to  part  with  the  precious  things  for  the 
dross.  You  see  I  am  generous  instead  of  being  avaricious, 
for  all  parties  are  in  Hayti,  where  the  value  of  the  articles 
must  be  settled.  It  is  true,  that  after  running  great  risks  at 
sea,  and  undergoing  great  pains  and  chances,  by  carrying 
this  gold  to  Spain,  I  may  be  requited  for  my  trouble,  and 
get  enough  benefit  to  make  an  honest  livelihood.  I  hope 
Dona  Isabella  will  have  so  much  feeling  for  these,  her  new 
subjects,  as  to  prevent  their  ever  going  into  the  shipping 
business, — a  most  laborious  and  dangerous  calling,  as  we 
both  well  know." 

"  And  why  art  thou  so  particular  in  desiring  this  favour 
in  behalf  of  these  poor  islanders,  and  that  too,  Sancho,  at 
the  expense  of  thine  own  bones  ?" 

"  Simply,  Senor,"  answered  the  knave,  with  a  cunning 
leer,  "  lest  it  unsettle  trade,  which  ought  to  be  as  free  and 
unencumbered  as  possible.  Here,  now,  if  we  Spaniards 
come  to  Hayti,  we  sell  one  hawk's-bell  for  a  dobla  in  gold  ,• 
whereas,  were  we  to  give  these  savages  the  trouble  to  come 
to  Spain,  a  dobla  of  their  gold  would  buy  a  hundred  hawk's- 
bells  !  No  —  no — it  is  right  as  it  is;  and  may  a  double 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  367 

allowance  of  Purgatory  be  the  lot  of  him  who  wishes  to 
throw  any  difficulties  in  the  way  of  a  good,  honest,  free  and 
civilizing  trade,  say  I." 

Sancho  was  thus  occupied  in  explaining  his  notions  of 
free  trade,  the  great  mystification  of  modern  philanthropists, 
when  there  arcse  such  a  cry  in  the  village  of  Mattinao,  as 
is  only  heard  in  moments  of  extreme  jeopardy  and  sudden 
terror.  The  conversation  took  place  in  the  grove,  about 
midway  between  the  town  and  the  private  dwellings  of  the 
cacique ;  and  so  implicit  had  become  the  confidence  the 
two  Spaniards  reposed  in  their  friends,  that  neither  had  any 
other  arms  about  his  person,  than  those  furnished  by  nature. 
Luis  had  left  both  sword  and  buckler,  half  an  hour  earlier, 
at  the  feet  of  Ozerna,  who  had  been  enacting  a  mimic  hero, 
with  his  weapons,  for  their  mutual  diversion  ;  while  Sancho 
had  found  the  arquebuse  much  too  heavy  to  be  carried 
about  for  a  plaything.  The  last  was  deposited  in  the  room 
where  he  had  taken  up  his  comfortable  quarters. 

"Can  this  mean  treachery,  Senor?"  exclaimed  Sancho. 
"  Have  these  blackguards  found  out  the  true  value  of 
hawk's-bells,  after  all,  and  do  they  mean  to  demand  the 
balance  due  them  ?" 

"  My  life  on  it,  Mattinao  and  all  his  people  are  true,  San 
cho.  This  uproar  hath  a  different  meaning — hark  !  is  not 
that  the  cry  of  <  Caonabo  ?'  " 

"  The  very  same,  Senor !  That  is  the  name  of  the  Ca- 
rib  cacique,  who  is  the  terror  of  all  these  tribes." 

"  Thy  arquebuse,  Sancho,  if  possible ;  then  join  me  at 
the  dwellings  above.  Ozema  and  the  wives  of  our  good 
friend  must  be  defended,  at  every  hazard  !" 

Luis  had  no  sooner  given  these  orders,  than  he  and  San 
cho  separated,  the  latter  running  towards  the  town,  which 
by  this  time  was  a  scene  of  wild  tumult,  while  our  hero, 
slowly  and  sullenly,  retired  towards  the  private  dwellings 
of  the  cacique,  occasionally  looking  back,  as  if  he  longed  to 
plunge  into  the  thickest  of  the  fray.  Twenty  times  did  he 
wish  for  his  favourite  charger  and  a  stout  lance,  when, 
indeed,  it  would  not  have  been  an  extraordinary  feat  for  a 
knight  of  his  prowess  to  put  to  flight  a  thousand  enemies 
like  those  who  now  menaced  him.  Often  had  he  singly 
broken  whole  ranks  of  Christian  foot-soldiers,  and  it  is  well 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

known  that  solitary  individuals,  when  mounted,  subse 
quently  drove  hundreds  of  the  natives  before  them. 

The  alarm  reached  the  dwellings  of  Mattinao  before  oui 
hero.  When  he  entered  the  house  of  Ozema,  he  found  its 
mistress  surrounded  by  fifty  females,  some  of  whom  had 
already  ascended  from  the  town  below,  each  of  whom  was 
eagerly  uttering  the  terrible  name  of  "  Caonabo."  Ozema 
herself  was  the  most  collected  of  them  all,  though  it  was 
apparent  that,  from  some  cause,  she  was  an  object  of  par 
ticular  solicitude  with  those  around  her.  As  Luis  entered 
the  apartment,  the  wives  of  Mattinao  were  pressing  around 
the  princess ;  and  he  soon  gathered  from  their  words  and 
entreaties,  that  they  urged  her  to  fly,  lest  she  should  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  Carib  chief.  He  even  fancied,  and  he 
fancied  it  justly,  that  the  rest  of  the  females  supposed  the 
seizure  of  the  cacique's  beautiful  sister  to  be  the  real  object 
of  the  sudden  attack.  This  conjecture  in  no  manner  less 
ened  Luis's  ardour  in  the  defence.  The  moment  Ozema 
caught  sight  of  him,  she  flew  to  his  side,  clasping  her 
hands,  and  uttering  the  name  of  "  Caonabo,"  in  a  tone  that 
would  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone.  At  the  same  time, 
her  eyes  spoke  a  language  of  hope,  confidence  and  petition 
that  was  not  necessary  to  enlist  our  hero's  resolution  on 
her  side.  In  a  moment  the  sword  of  the  young  cavalier 
was  in  his  hand,  and  the  buckler  on  his  arm.  He  then 
assured  the  princess  of  his  zeal,  in  the  best  manner  he 
could,  by  placing  the  buckler  before  her  throbbing  breast, 
and  waving  the  sword,  as  in  defiance  of  her  enemies :  no 
sooner  was  this  pledge  given,  than  every  other  female  dis 
appeared,  some  flying  to  the  rescue  of  their  children,  and 
all  endeavouring  to  find  places  of  concealment.  By  this 
singular  and  unexpected  desertion,  Luis  found  himself,  for 
the  first  time  since  they  had  met,  alone  with  Ozema. 

To  remain  in  the  house  would  be  to  suffer  the  enemy  to 
approach  unseen,  and  the  shrieks  and  cries  sufficiently  an 
nounced  that,  each  moment,  the  danger  drew  nearer.  Luis 
accordingly  made  a  sign  for  the  girl  to  follow  him,  first  roll 
ing  tne  turban  into  a  bundle  and  placing  it  on  her  arm,  that 
it  might  serve  her,  at  need,  as  a  species  of  shield  against 
the  hostile  arrows.  While  he  was  thus  employed,  Ozema's 
head  fell  upon  his  breast,  and  the  excited  girl  burst  into 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  369 

tears.  This  display  of  weakness,  however,  lasted  but  a 
moment,  when  she  aroused  herself,  smiled  through  her 
tears,  pressed  the  arm  of  Luis  convulsively  and  became 
the  Indian  heroine  again.  They  then  left  the  building 
together. 

Luis  soon  perceived  that  his  retreat  from  the  house  had 
not  been  made  a  moment  too  soon.  The  family  of  Mat- 
tinao  had  already  disappeared,  and  a  strong  party  of  the 
invaders  was  in  full  view,  rushing  madly  up  the  grove, 
silent,  but  evidently  bent  on  seizing  their  prey.  He  felt 
Ozema,  who  clung  to  his  arm,  tremble  violently,  and  then 
he  heard  her  murmuring, — 

"  Caonabo, — no — no — no  !" 

The  young  Indian  princess  had  caught  the  Spanish  mo 
nosyllable  of  dissent,  and  Luis  understood  this  exclamation 
to  express  her  strong  disinclination  to  become  a  wife  of  the 
Carib  chief.  His  resolution  to  protect  her,  or  to  die,  was 
in  no  manner  lessened  by  this  involuntary  betrayal  of  her 
feelings,  which  he  could  not  but  think  might  have  some  con 
nexion  with  himself;  for,  while  our  hero  was  both  honour 
able  and  generous,  he  was  human,  and,  consequently,  well 
disposed  to  take  a  favourable  view  of  his  own  powers  of 
pleasing.  It  was  only  in  connexion  with  Mercedes,  that 
Luis  oje  Bobadilla  was  humble. 

A  soldier  almost  from  childhood,  the  young  count  looked 
hastily  around  him  for  a  position  that  would  favour  his  means 
of  defence,  and  which  would  render  his  arms  the  most  avail 
able.  Luckily,  one  offered  so  near  him,  that  it  required 
but  a  minute  to  occupy  it.  The  terrace  lay  against  a  pre 
cipice  of  rocks,  and,  a  hundred  feet  from  the  house,  was  a 
spot  where  the  face  of  this  precipice  was  angular,  throwing 
forward  a  wall  on  each  side  to  some  distance,  while  the 
cliff  above  overhung  the  base  sufficiently  to  remove  all  dan 
ger  from  falling  stones.  In  the  angle  were  several  large 
fragments  of  rock  that  would  afford  shelter  against  arrows, 
and,  there  being  a  sufficient  space  of  greensward  before 
them,  on  which  a  knight  might  well  display  his  prowess 
when  in  possession  of  this  position,  our  hero  felt  himself 
strong,  if  not  impregnable,  since  he  could  be  assailed  only 
in  front.  Ozema  was  stationed  behind  one  of  the  fragments 
of  the  fallen  rocks,  her  person  only  half  concealed,  how- 


370  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

ever,  concern  for  Luis,  and  curiosity  as  related  to  her  ene 
mies,  equally  inducing  her  to  expose  her  head  and  beauti 
ful  bust. 

Luis  was  scarcely  in  possession  of  this  post,  ere  a  dozen 
Indians  were  drawn  up  in  a  line  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
yards  in  his  front.  They  were  armed  with  bows,  war- 
clubs,  and  spears.  Being  without  other  defensive  armour 
than  his  buckler,  the  young  man  would  have  thought  his 
situation  sufficiently  critical,  did  he  not  know  that  the 
archery  of  the  natives  was  anything  but  formidable.  Their 
arrows  would  kill,  certainly,  when  shot  at  short  distances, 
and  against  the  naked  skin,  but  it  might  be  questioned  if 
they  would  penetrate  the  stout  velvet  in  which  Luis  was  en 
cased,  and  fifty  yards  was  not  near  enough  to  excite  undue 
alarm.  The  young  man  did  not  dare  to  retreat  to  the  rocks, 
as  a  clear  space  was  indispensable  for  the  free  use  of  his 
good  sword,  and  to  that  weapon  alone-  he  looked  for  his 
eventual  triumph. 

It  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  our  hero  that  Caonabo 
himself  was  not  with  the  party  which  beleagured  him. 
That  redoubtable  chieftain,  who  had  been  led  to  a  distance 
in  pursuit  of  the  flying  females,  under  a  belief  that  she  he 
sought  was  among  them,  would  doubtless  have  brought  the 
matter  to  an  immediate  issue  by  a  desperate  charge,  when 
numbers  might  have  prevailed  against  courage  and  skill. 
The  actual  assailants  chose  a  different  course,  and  began 
to  poise  their  bows.  One  of  the  most  skilful  among  them 
drew  an  arrow  to  the  head,  and  let  it  fly.  The  missile 
glanced  from  the  buckler  of  the  knight,  and  struck  the  hill 
behind  him,  as  lightly  as  if  the  parties  had  been  at  their 
idle  sports.  Another  followed,  and  Luis  turned  it  aside 
with  his  sword,  disdaining  to  raise  his  shield  against  such 
a  trifle.  This  cool  manner  of  receiving  their  assaults  caused 
the  Indians  to  raise  a  shout,  whether  in  admiration  or  rage, 
Luis  could  not  tell. 

The  next  attack  was  more  judicious,  being  made  on  a 
principle  that  Napoleon  is  said  to  have  adopted  in  directing 
discharges  of  his  artillery.  All  those  who  had  bows,  some 
six  or  eight,  drew  their  arrows  together,  and  the  weapons 
came  rattling  on  the  buckler  of  the  assailed  in  a  single 
flight.  It  was  not  easy  to  escape  altogether  from  such  a 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  371 

combined  assault,  and  our  hero  received  one  or  two  bruises 
from  glancing  arrows,  though  no  blood  followed  the  blows. 
A  second  attempt  of  the  same  nature  was  about  to  be  made, 
when  the  alarmed  girl  rushed  from  her  place  of  conceal 
ment,  and,  like  the  Pocahontas  of  our  own  history,  threw 
herself  before  Luis,  with  her  arms  meekly  placed  on  her 
bosom.  As  soon  as  she  appeared,  there  was  a  cry  of 
"  Ozema  "  —  "  Ozema,"  among  the  assailants,  who  were 
not  Caribs,  as  all  will  understand  who  are  familiar  with  the 
island  history,  but  milder  Haytians,  governed  by  a  Carib 
chief. 

In  vain  Luis  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  devoted  girl  to 
withdraw.  She  thought  his  life  in  danger,  and  no  language, 
had  he  been  able  to  exert  his  eloquence  on  the  occasion, 
could  have  induced  her  to  leave  him  exposed  to  such  a 
danger.  As  the  Indians  were  endeavouring  to  obtain 
chances  at  the  person  of  Luis  without  killing  the  princess, 
he  saw  there  remained  no  alternative  but  a  retreat  behind 
the  fragments  of  rock.  Just  as  he  obtained  this  tempo 
rary  security,  a  fierce-looking  warrior  joined  the  assail 
ants,  who  immediately  commenced  a  vociferous  explanation 
of  the  actual  state  of  the  attack. 

"  Caonabo  ?"  demanded  Luis,  of  Ozema,  pointing  towards 
the  new-comer. 

The  girl  shook  her  head,  after  taking  an  anxious  look  at 
the  stranger's  face,  at  the  same  time  clinging  to  our  hero's 
arm,  with  seductive  dependence. 

"  No — no — no — "  she  said,  eagerly.  "  No  Caonabo — 
no — no — no." 

Luis  understood  the  first  part  of  this  answer  to  mean 
that  the  stranger  was  not  the  Carib  chief;  and  the  last  to 
signify  Ozema's  strong  and  settled  aversion  to  becoming 
his  wife. 

The  consultation  among  the  assailants  was  soon  ended. 
Six  of  them  then  poised  their  war-clubs  and  spears,  and 
made  a  rush  for  the  citadel  of  the  besieged.  When  they 
were  within  twenty  feet  of  his  cover,  our  hero  sprang 
lightly  forward  on  the  sward  to  meet  his  foes.  Two  of  the 
spears  he  received  on  his  buckler,  severing  both  shafts 
with  a  single  blow  of  his  keen  and  highly-tempered  sword. 
As  he  recovered  from  the  effort,  with  an  upward  cut  he  met 


372  3IERCEDKS    OF    CASTILE. 

the  raised  arm  of  the  club-man  most  in  advance.  Hand 
and  club  fell  at  his  feet  with  the  skilful  touch.  Making  a 
sweep  with  the  weapon  in  his  front,  its  point  seamed  the 
breasts  of  the  two  astonished  spearsmen,  whose  distance 
alone  saved  them  from  more  serious  injuries. 

This  rapid  and  unlooked-for  execution  struck  the  assail- 
ants  with  awe  and  dread.  Never  before  had  they  witnessed 
the  power  of  metal  as  used  in  war ;  and  the  sudden  am 
putation  of  the  arm  struck  them  as  something  miraculous. 
Even  the  ferocious  Carib  fell  back  in  dismay,  and  Luis  felt 
hopes  of  victory.  This  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  the 
Spaniards  had  come  to  blows  with  the  mild  inhabitants  of 
the  islands  they  had  discovered,  though  it  is  usual  with 
the  historians  to  refer  to  an  incident  of  still  later  occur 
rence,  as  the  commencement  of  strife,  the  severe  privacy 
which  has  ever  been  thrown  over  the  connexion  of  Don 
Luis  with  the  expedition,  having  completely  baffled  their 
slight  and  superficial  researches.  Of  course,  the  efficiency 
of  a  weapon  like  that  used  by  our  hero,  was  as  novel  to 
the  Haytians  as  it  was  terrific. 

At  this  instant  a  shout  among  the  assailants,  and  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  fresh  body  of  the  invaders,  with  a  tall  and 
commanding  chief  at  their  head,  announced  the  arrival  of 
Caonabo  in  person.  This  warlike  cacique  was  soon  made 
acquainted  with  the  state  of  affairs,  and  it  was  evident  that 
the  prowess  of  our  hero  struck  him  as  much  with  admiration 
as  with  wonder.  After  a  few  minutes,  he  directed  his  follow 
ers  to  fall  back  to  a  greater  distance,  and,  laying  aside  his 
club,  he  advanced  fearlessly  towards  Luis,  making  sign?  of 
amity. 

When  the  two  adversaries  met,  it  was  with  mutual  re 
spect  and  confidence.  The  Carib  made  a  short  and  vehe 
ment  speech,  in  which  the  only  word  that  was  intelligible  to 
our  hero,  was  the  name  of  the  beautiful  young  Indian.  By 
this  time  Ozema  had  also  advanced,  as  if  eager  to  speak, 
and  her  rude  suitor  turned  to  her,  with  an  appeal  that  was 
passionate,  if  not  eloquent.  He  laid  his  hand  frequently 
on  his  heart,  and  his  voice  became  soft  and  persuasive. 
Ozema  replied  earnestly,  and  in  the  quick  manner  of  one 
wnose  resolution  was  settled.  At  the  close  of  her  speech, 
the  colour  mounted  to  the  temples  of  the  ardent  giri,  and,  as 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  373 

if  purposely  to  make  her  meaning  understood  by  our  hero, 
she  ended  by  saying,  in  Spanish, 

"  Caonabo  —  no  —  no  —  no  !  —  Luis  —  Luis  !" 

The  aspect  of  the  hurricane  of  the  tropics  is  not  darker, 
or  more  menacing,  than  the  scowl  with  which  the  Carib 
chief  heard  this  unequivocal  rejection  of  his  suit,  accompa 
nied,  as  it  was,  by  so  plain  a  demonstration  in  favour  of  the 
stranger.  Waving  his  hand  in  defiance,  he  strode  back  to 
his  people,  and  issued  orders  for  a  fresh  assault. 

This  time,  a  tempest  of  arrows  preceded  the  rush,  and 
Luis  was  fain  to  seek  his  former  cover  behind  the  rocks. 
Indeed,  this  was  the  only  manner  in  which  he  could  save 
the  life  of  Ozema ;  the  devoted  girl  resolutely  persevering 
in  standing  before  his  body,  in  the  hope  it  would  shield  him 
from  his  enemies.  There  had  been  some  words  of  reproach 
from  Caonabo  to  the  Carib  chief,  who  had  retreated  from 
the  first  attack,  and  the  air  was  yet  filled  with  arrows,  as 
this  man  rushed  forward,  singly,  to  redeem  his  name.  Luis 
met  him,  firm  as  the  rock  behind  him.  The  shock  was 
violent,  and  the  blow  that  fell  on  the  buckler  would  have 
crushed  an  arm  less  enured  to  such  rude  encounters  ;  but 
it  glanced  obliquely  from  the  shield,  and  the  club  struck 
the  earth  with  the  weight  of  a  beetle.  Our  hero  saw  that 
all  now  depended  on  a  deep  impression.  His  sword  flashed 
in  the  bright  sun,  and  the  head  of  the  Carib  tumbled  by  the 
side  of  his  club,  actually  leaving  the  body  erect  for  an  in 
stant,  so  keen  was  the  weapon,  and  so  dexterous  had  deen 
the  blow. 

Twenty  savages  were  on  the  spring,  but  they  stopped, 
like  men  transfixed,  at  this  unexpected  sight.  Caonabo, 
however,  undaunted  even  when  most  surprised,  roared  out 
his  orders  like  a  maddened  bull,  and  the  wavering  crowd 
was  again  about  to  advance,  when  the  loud  report  of  an 
arquebuse  was  heard,  followed  by  the  whistling  of  its  deadly 
missives.  A  second  Haytian  fell  dead  in  his  tracks.  It 
exceeded  the  powers  of  savage  endurance  to  resist  this  as 
sault,  which,  to  their  uninstructed  minds,  appeared  to  come 
from  heaven.  In  two  minutes,  neither  Caonabo  nor  any  of 
his  followers  were  visible.  As  they  rushed  down  the  hill, 
Sancho  appeared  from  a  cover,  carrying  the  arquebuse, 
which  he  had  taken  the  precaution  to  reload. 
32 


374  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

The  circumstances  did  not  admit  of  delay.  Not  a  being 
of  Ma  Ulnae's  tribe  was  to  be  seen  in  any  direction  ;  and  Luis 
made  no  doubt  they  had  all  fled.  Determined  to  save  Oze- 
ma  at  every  hazard,  he  now  took  his  way  to  the  river,  in 
order  to  escape  in  one  of  the  canoes.  In  passing  through 
the  town,  it  was  seen  that  not  a  house  had  been  plundered 
and  the  circumstance  was  commented  on  by  the  Spaniards, 
Luis  pointing  it  out  to  his  companion. 

"  Caonabo — no — no — no — Ozema  ! — Ozema  !"  was  the 
answer  of  the  girl,  who  well  knew  the  real  object  of  the 
inroad. 

A  dozen  canoes  lay  at  the  landing,  and  five  minutes 
sufficed  for  the  fugitives  to  enter  one,  and  to  commence 
their  retreat.  The  current  flowed  towards  the  sea,  and  in 
a  couple  of  hours  they  were  on  the  ocean.  As  the  wind 
blew  constantly  from  the  eastward,  Sancho  soon  rigged 
an  apology  for  a  sail,  and,  an  hour  befpre  the  sun  set,  the 
party  landed  on  a  point  that  concealed  them  from  the  bay ; 
Luis  being  mindful  of  the  admiral's  injunction,  to  conceal 
his  excursion,  lest  others  might  claim  a  similar  favour. 


CHAPTEE  XXIY. 

••Three-score  and  ten  I  can  remember  well, 
Within  the  volume  of  which  time  I  have  seen 
Hours  dreadful,  and  things  strange,  but  this  sore  sight 
Hath  trifled  former  knowings." 

Macbeth. 

A  SIGHT  that  struck  our  hero  with  a  terror  and  awe, 
almost  as  great  as  those  experienced  by  the  ignorant  Hay- 
tians  at  the  report  and  effect  of  the  arquebuse,  awaited  him, 
us  he  came  in  view  of  the  anchorage.  The  Santa  Maria, 
that  vessel  of  the  admiral,  which  he  had  left  only  four  days 
oefore  in  her  gallant  array  and  pride,  lay  a  stranded  wreck 
on  the  sands,  with  fallen  masts,  broken  sides,  and  all  the 
*>ther  signs  of  nautical  destruction.  The  Nina  was  an 
chored  in  safety,  it  is  true,  at  no  great  distance,  but  a  sense 
of  loneliness  and  desertion  came  over  the  young  man,  as 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  375 

he  gazed  at  this  small  craft,  which  was  little  moie  than  a 
felucca,  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  ship  for  the  purposes  of  the 
voyage.  The  beach  was  covered  with  stores,  and  it  was 
evident  that  the  Spaniards  and  the  people  of  Guacanagari 
toiled  in  company,  at  the  construction  of  a  sort  of  fortress  ; 
an  omen  that  some  great  change  had  come  over  the  expe 
dition.  Ozema  was  immediately  left  in  the  house  of  a  na 
tive,  and  the  two  adventurers  hurried  forward  to  join  their 
friends,  and  to  ask  an  explanation  of  what  they  had  seen. 

Columbus  received  his  young  friend  kindly,  but  in  deep 
affliction.  The  manner  in  which  the  ship  was  lost  has  been 
often  told,  and  Luis  learned  that,  the  Ni'na  being  too  small 
to  carry  all  away,  a  colony  was  to  be  left  in  the  fortress, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  adventurers  hastened  back  to 
Spain.  Guacanagari  had  shown  himself  full  of  sympathy, 
and  was  kindness  itself,  while  every  one  had  been  too 
much  occupied  with  the  shipwreck  to  miss  our  hero,  or  to 
hearken  to  rumours  of  an  event  as  common  as  an  inroad 
from  a  Carib  chief,  to  carry  off  an  Indian  beauty.  Per 
haps  the  latter  event  was  still  too  recent  to  have 'reached 
the  shore. 

The  week  that  succeeded  the  return  of  Luis,  was  one  of 
active  exertion.  The  Santa  Maria  was  wrecked  on  the 
morning  of  Christmas  day,  1492,  and  on  that  of  the  4th 
of  January  following,  the  Nina  was  ready  to  depart  on  her 
return  voyage.  During  this  interval,  Luis  had  seen  Ozema 
but  once,  and  then  he  had  found  her  sorrowing,  mute,  and 
resembling  a  withered  flower,  that  retained  its  beauty  even 
while  it  drooped.  On  the  evening  of  the  third,  however, 
while  lingering  near  the  new-finished  fortress,  he  was  sum 
moned  by  Sancho  to  another  interview.  To  the  surprise 
of  our  hero,  he  found  the  young  cacique  with  his  sister. 

Although  language  was  wanting,  on  this  occasion,  the 
parties  easily  understood  each  other.  Ozema  was  no 
longer  sorrowful,  and  borne  down  with  grief:  the  smile 
and  the  laugh  came  easily  from  her  young  and  buoyant 
spirits,  and  Luis  thought  he  had  never  seen  her  so  winning 
and  lovely.  She  had  arranged  her  scanty  toilet  with  In 
dian  coquetry,  and  the  bright  warm  colour  of  her  cheeks 
added  new  lustre  to  her  brilliant  eyes.  Her  light,  agile 
form,  a  model  of  artless  grace,  seemed  so  ethereal  as 


376  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

scarce  to  touch  the  earth.  The  secret  of  this  sudden 
change  was  not  long  hid  from  Luis.  The  brother  and  sis 
ter,  after  discussing  all  their  dangers  and  escapes,  and  pas-s 
ing  in  review  the  character  and  known  determination  of 
Caonabo,  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  there  was  no 
refuge  for  Ozema  but  in  flight.  What  most  determined  the 
brother  to  consent  that  his  sister  should  accompany  the 
strangers  to  their  distant  home,  it  would  be  useless  to 
inquire  ;  but  the  motive  of  Ozema  herself,  can  be  no  secret 
to  the  reader.  It  was  known  that  the  admiral  was  desirous 
of  carrying  to  Spain  a  party  of  natives  ;  and  three  females, 
one  of  'whom  was  of  Ozema's  rank,  had  already  consented 
to  go.  This  chieftain's  wife  was  not  cxily  known  to  Ozema, 
but  she  was  a  kinswoman.  Every  thing  seemed  propitious 
to  the  undertaking ;  and  as  a  voyage  to  Spain  was  still  a 
mystery  to  the  natives,  who  regarded  it  as  something  l&e 
an  extended  passage  from  one  of  their  islands  to  another, 
no  formidable  difficulties  presented  themselves  to  the  ima 
gination  of  either  the  cacique  or  his  sister. 

This  proposition  took  our  hero  by  surprise.  He  was 
both  flattered  and  pleased  at  the  self-devotion  of  Ozema, 
even  while  it  troubled  him.  Perhaps  there  were  moments 
when  he  a  little  distrusted  himself.  Still  Mercedes  reigned 
in  his  heart,  and  he  shook  off  the  feeling  as  a  suspicion  that 
a  true  knight  could  not  entertain  without  offering  an  insult 
to  his  own  honour.  On  second  thoughts,  there  were  fewer 
objections  to  the  scheme  than  he  had  at  first  fancied ;  and, 
after  an  hour's  discussion,  he  left  the  place  to  go  and  con 
sult  the  admiral. 

Columbus  was  still  at  the  fortress,  and  he  heard  our  hero 
gravely  and  with  interest.  Once  or  twice  Luis's  eyes 
dropped  under  the  searching  glance  of  his  superior ;  but, 
on  the  whole,  he  acquitted  himself  of  the  task  he  had  un 
dertaken,  with  credit. 

"  The  sister  of  a  cacique,  thou  say'st,  Don  Luis,"  re 
turned  the  admiral,  thoughtfully.  "  The  virgin  sister  of  a 
cacique  ?" 

"  Even  so,  Don  Christopher ;  and  of  a  grace,  birth,  and 
beauty,  that  will  give  our  Lady,  the  Queen,  a  most  exalted 
idea  of  the  merits  of  our  discovery." 

"  Thou  wilt   remember,  Senor  Conde,  that  nought  but 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  377 

purity  may  be  offered  to  purity.  Dona  Isabella  is  a  model 
for  all  queens,  and  mothers,  and  wives;  and  I  trust  no 
thing  to  offend  her  angelic  mind  can  ever  come  from  hei 
favoured  servants.  There  has  been  no  deception  practised 
on  this  wild  girl,  to  lead  her  into  sin  and  misery  ?" 

"Don  Christopher,  you  can  scarce  think  this  of  me.  Dona 
Mercedes  herself  is  not  more  innocent  than  the  girl  I  mean, 
nor  could  her  brother  feel  more  solicitude  in  her  fortunes, 
than  I  feel.  When  the  king  and  queen  have  satisfied  their 
curiosity,  and  dismissed  her,  I  propose  to  place  her  under 
the  care  of  the  Lady  of  Valverde." 

"  The  rarer  the  specimens  that  we  take,  the  better,  Luis. 
This  will  gratify  the  sovereigns,  and  cause  them  to  think 
favourably  of  our  discoveries,  as  thou  sayest.  It  might  be 
done  without  inconvenience.  The  Nina  is  small,  of  a 
verity,  but  we  gain  much  in  leaving  this  large  party  be 
hind  us.  I  have  given  up  the  principal  cabin  to  the  other 
females,  since  thou  and  I  can  fare  rudely  for  a  few  weeks. 
Let  the  girl  come,  and  see  thou  to  her  comfort  and  conve 
nience." 

This  settled  the  matter.  Early  next  morning  Ozema 
embarked,  carrying  with  her  the  simple  wealth  of  an  Indian 
princess,  among  which  the  turban  was  carefully  preserved. 
Her  relative  had  an  attendant,  who  sufficed  for  both.  Luis 
paid  great  attention  to  the  accommodations,  in  which  both 
comfort  and  privacy  were  duly  respected.  The  parting 
with  Mattinao  was  touchingly  tender,  for  the  domestic  af 
fections  appear  to  have  been  much  cultivated  among  these 
simple-minded  and  gentle  people  ;  but  the  separation,  it  was 
supposed,  would  be  short,  and  Ozema  had,  again  and  again 
assured  her  brother  that  her  repugnance  to  Caonabo,  pow 
erful  cacique  as  he  might  be,  was  unconquerable.  Each 
hour  increased  it,  strengthening  her  resolution  never  to  be 
come  his  wife.  The  alternative  was  to  secrete  herself  in 
the  island,  or  to  make  this  voyage  to  Spain  ;  and  there  was 
glory  as  well  as  security  in  the  latter.  With  this  conso 
lation  the  brother  and  sister  parted. 

Columbus  had  intended  to  push  his  discoveries  much  far 
ther,  before  he  returned  to  Europe;  but  the  loss  of  the 
Santa  Maria,  and  the  desertion  of  the  Pinta,  reduced  him 
to  the  necessity  of  bringing  the  expedition  to  a  close,  lest, 

o-o 


378  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

by  some  untoward  accident,  all  that  had  actually  been 
achieved  should  be  for  ever  lost  to  the  world.  Accordingly, 
in  the  course  of  the  4th  of  January,  1493,  he  made  sail  to 
the  eastward,  holding  his  course  along  the  shores  of  Hayti. 
His  great  object  now  was  to  get  back  to  Spain  before  his 
remaining  little  bark  should  fail  him,  when  his  own  name 
would  perish  with  the  knowledge  of  his  discoveries.  For 
tunately,  however,  on  the  6th,  the  Pinta  was  seen  coming 
down  before  the  wind,  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon  having  ef 
fected  one  of  the  purposes  for  which  he  .had  parted  com 
pany,  that  of  securing  a  quantity  of  gold,  but  failed  in 
discovering  any  mines,  which  is  believed  to  have  been  his 
principal  motive. 

It  is  not  important  to  the  narrative  to  relate  the  details  of 
the  meeting  that  followed.  Columbus  received  the  offending 
Pinzon  with  prudent  reserve,  and,  hearing  his  explanations, 
he  directed  him  to  prepare  the  Pinta  for  the  return  passage. 
After  wooding  and  watering  accordingly,  in  a  bay  favour 
able  to  such  objects,  the  two  vessels  proceeded  to  the  east 
ward  in  company;  still  following  the  north  shore  of  Hayti, 
Espanola,  or  Little  Spain,  as  the  island  had  been  named 
by  Columbus.* 

It  was  the  16th  of  the  month,  ere  the  adventurers  finally 
took  their  leave  of  this  beautiful  spot.  They  had  scarcely 
got  clear  of  the  land,  steering  a  north-easterly  course,  when 
the  favourable  winds  deserted  them,  and  they  were  again 

*  The  fortunes  of  this  beautiful  island  furnish  a  remarkable  proof 
of  the  manner  in  which  abuses  are  made,  by  the  providence  of  God,  to 
produce  their  own  punishments.  This  island,  which  is  about  two- 
thirds  the  size  of  the  state  of  New  York,  was  the  seat  of  Spanish  au 
thority,  in  the  New  World,  for  many  years.  The  mild  aborigines,  who 
were  numerous  and  happy  when  discovered,  were  literal'y  exterminated 
by  the  cruelties  of  their  new  masters  ;  and  it  was  found  necessary  to 
import  negroes  from  Africa,  to  toil  in  the  cane-fields.  Towards  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  it  is  said  that  two  hundred  of  the  abo. 
rigines  were  not  to  be  found  in  the  island,  although  Ovando  had  decoyed 
no  less  than  forty  thousand  from  the  Bahamas,  to  supply  the  places  of 
the  dead,  as  early  as  1513!  At  a  later  day,  Espanola  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  French,  and  all  know  the  terrible  events  by  which  it  has 
gone  into  the  exclusive  possession  of  the  descendants  of  the  children 
of  Africa.  All  that  has  been  said  of  the  influence  of  the  white  popu 
lation  of  this  country,  as  connected  with  our  own  Indians,  sinks  into 
insignificance,  as  compared  with  these  astounding  facts. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  379 

met  by  the  trades.  The  weather  was  moderate,  however, 
and  by  keeping  the  two  vessels  on  the  best  tack,  by  the  10th 
of  February,  the  admiral,  making  sundry  deviations  from  a 
straight  course,  however,  had  stretched  across  the  track  of 
ocean  in  which  these  constant  breezes  prevailed,  and 
reached  a  parallel  of  latitude  as  high  as  Palos,  his  port.  In 
making  this  long  slant,  the  Nina,  contrary  to  former  expe 
rience,  was  much  detained  by  the  dull  sailing  of  the  Pinta, 
which  vessel,  having  sprung  her  after-mast,  was  unable  to 
bear  a  press  of  sail.  The  light  breezes  also  favoured  the 
first,  which  had  ever  been  deemed  a  fast  craft,  in  smooth 
water  and  gentle  gales. 

Most  of  the  phenomena  of  the  outward  passage  were  ob 
served  on  the  homeward  ;  but  the  tunny-fish  no  longer  ex 
cited  hopes,  nor  did  the  sea-weed  awaken  fears.  These 
familiar  objects  were  successfully,  but  slowly  passed,  and 
the  variable  winds  were  happily  struck  again  in  the  first 
fortnight.  Here  the  traverses  necessarily  became  more  and 
more  complicated,  until  the  pilots,  unused  to  so  long  and 
difficult  a  navigation,  in  which  they  received  no  aids  from 
either  land  or  water,  got  confused  in  their  reckonings,  dis 
puting  hotly  among  themselves  concerning  their  true  po 
sition. 

"  Thou  hast  heard  to-day,  Luis,"  said  the  admiral  smiling, 
in  one  of  his  renewed  conferences  with  our  hero,  "  the  con 
tentions  of  Vicente  Yaiiez,  with  his  brother,  Martin  Alonzo, 
and  the  other  pilots,  touching  our  distance  from  Spain. 
These  constant  shifts  of  wind  have  perplexed  the  honest 
mariners,  and  they  fancy  themselves  in  any  part 'of  the 
Atlantic,  but  that  in  which  they  really  are !" 

"  Much  depends  on  you,  Senor  ;  not  only  our  safety,  but 
the  knowledge  of  our  great  discoveries." 

"  Thou  sayest  true,  Don  Luis.  Vicente  Yafiez,  Sancho 
Ruiz,  Pedro  Alonzo  Nino,  and  Bartolemeo  Roldan,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  profound  calculators  in  the  Pinta,  place  the 
vessels  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Madeira,  which  is  nearer  to 
Spain,  by  a  hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  than  the  truth  would 
show.  These  honest  people  have  followed  their  wishes, 
rather  than  their  knowledge  of  the  ocean  and  the  heavens." 

"  And  you,  Don  Christopher,  where  do  you  place  the 
caravels,  since  there  is  no  motive  to  conceal  the  truth  ?" 


380  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"We  are  south  of  Flores,  young  count,  fully  twelve  de 
grees  west  of  the  Canaries,  and  in  the  latitude  of  Nafe,  in 
Africa.  But  I  would  that  they  should  be  bewildered,  until 
the  right  of  possession  to  our  discoveries  be  made  a  matter 
of  certainty.  Not  one  of  these  men  now  doubts  his  ability  to 
do  all  I  have  done,  and  yet  neither  is  able  to  grope  his 
way  back  again,  after  crossing  this  track  of  water  to  Asia  !" 

Luis  understood  the  admiral,  and  the  size  of  the  vessels 
rendering  the  communication  of  secrets  hazardous,  the 
conversation  changed. 

Up  to  this  time,  though  the  winds  were  often  variable,  the 
weather  had  been  good.  A  few  squalls  had  occurred,  as 
commonly  happens  at.  sea,  but  they  had  proved  to  be  neither 
long  nor  severe.  All  this  was  extremely  grateful  to  Co 
lumbus,  who,  now  he  had  effected  the  great  purpose  for 
which  he  might  have  been  said  to  live,  felt  some  such  con 
cern  lest  the  important  secret  should  be  lost  to  the  rest  of 
mankind,  as  one  who  carries  a  precious  object  through 
scenes  of  danger  experiences  for  the  safety  of  his  charge. 
A  change,  however,  was  at  hand,  and  at  the  very  moment 
when  the  great  navigator  began  to  hope  the  best,  he  was 
fated  to  experience  the  severest  of  all  his  trials. 

As  the  vessels  advanced  north,  the  weather  became  cooler, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  and  the  winds  stronger.  During 
the  night  of  the  llth  of  February,  the  caravels  made  a 
great  run  on  their  course,  gaining  more  than  a  hundred 
miles  between  sunset  and  sunrise.  The  next  morning  many 
birds  were  in  sight,  from  which  fact  Columbus  believed  him 
self  quite  near  the  Azores,  while  the  pilots  fancied  they 
were  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Madeira.  The  following 
day  the  wind  was  less  favourable,  though  strong,  and  a 
heavy  sea  had  got  up.  The  properties  of  the  little  Nina 
now  showed  themselves  to  advantage,  for,  ere  the  turn  of 
the  day,  she  had  to  contend  with  such  a  struggle  of  the 
elements,  as  few  in  her  had  ever  before  witnessed.  For 
tunately,  all  that  consummate  seamanship  could  devise  to 
render  her  safe  and  comfortable  had  been  done,  and  she 
was  in  as  perfect  a  state  of  preparation  for  a  tempest,  as 
circumstances  would  allow.  The  only  essential  defect  was 
her  unusual  lightness,  since,  most  of  her  stores  as  well 
as  her  water  being  nearly  exhausted,  her  draught  of 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  38 1 

water  was  materially  less  than  it  should  have  been.  The 
caravel  was  so  small,  that  this  circumstance,  which  is  of 
little  consequence  to  the  safety  of  large  vessels,  got  to  be 
one  of  consideration  in  a  craft  whose  means  of  endurance 
did  not  place  her  above  the  perils  of  squalls.  The  reader 
will  understand  the  distinction  better  when  he  is  told  that 
ships  of  size  can  only  lose  their  spars  by  sudden  gusts  of 
wind,  seldom  being  thrown  on  their  beam-ends,  as  it  is 
termed,  unless  by  the  power  of  the  waves  ;  whereas,  smaller 
craft  incur  the  risk  of  being  capsized,  when  the  spread 
of  their  canvass  is  disproportioned  to  their  stability.  Al 
though  the  seamen  of  the  Nina  perceived  this  defect  in  their 
caravel,  which,  in  a  great  measure,  proceeded  from  the 
consumption  of  the  fresh  water,  they  hoped  so  soon  to  gain 
a  haven,  that  no  means  had  been  taken  to  remedy  the  evil. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  as  the  sun  set  on  the  night 
of  the  12th  of  February,  1493.  As  usual,  Columbus  was 
on  the  poop,  vessels  of  all  sizes  then  carrying  these  clumsy 
excrescences,  though  this  of  the  Nina  was  so  small  as 
scarce-  to  deserve  the  name.  Luis  was  at  his  side,  and 
both  watched  the  aspect  of  the  heavens  and  the  ocean  in 
grave  silence.  Never  before  had  our  hero  seen  the  elements 
in  so  great  commotion,  and  the  admiral  had  just  remarked, 
that  even  he  had  not  viewed  many  nights  as  threatening. 
There  is  a  solemnity  about  a  sunset  at  sea,  when  the  clouds 
appear  threatening,  and  the  omens  of  a  storm  are  brooding, 
that  is  never  to  be  met  with  on  the  land.  The  loneliness 
of  a  ship,  struggling  through  a  waste  of  dreary-looking 
water,  contributes  10  the  influence  of  the  feelings  that  are 
awakened,  as  them  appears  to  be  but  one  object  on  which 
the  wild  efforts  of  the  storm  can  expend  themselves.  All 
else  seem  to  be  in  unison  to  aid  the  general  strife  ;  ocean, 
heavens,  and  the  air,  being  alike  accessaries  in  the  murky 
picture.  When  the  wintry  frowns  of  February  are  thrown 
around  all,  the  gloomy  hues  of  the  scene  are  deepened  to 
their  darkest  tints. 

"  This  is  a  brooding  night-fall,  Don  Luis,"  Columbus  re 
marked,  just  as  the  last  rays  that  the  sun  cast  upwards  on 
the  stormy-looking  clouds  disappeared  from  their  ragged 
outlines — "  I  have  rarely  seen  another  as  menacing  '* 

"  One  has  a  double  confidence  in  the  care  of  God,  while 


382  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

sailing  under  your  guidance,  Sefior ;  first  in  his  goodness, 
and  next  in  the  knowledge  of  his  agent's  skilfulness." 

"The  power  of  the  Almighty  is  sufficient  to  endue  the 
feeblest  mortal  with  all  fitting  skill,  when  it  is  his  divine 
will  to  spare ;  or  to  rob  the  most  experienced  of  their 
knowledge,  when  his  anger  can  only  ba  appeased  by  the 
worldly  destruction  of  his  creatures." 

"  You  look  upon  the  night  as  portentous,  Don  Christo 
pher  !" 

"  I  have  seen  omens  as  ill,  though  very  seldom.  Had 
not  the  caravel  this  burthensome  freight,  I  might  view  our 
situation  less  anxiously." 

"  You  surprise  me,  sir  admiral !  the  pilots  have  regretted 
that  our  barque  is  so  light." 

"  True,  as  to  material  substance ;  but  it  beareth  a  cargo 
of  knowledge,  Luis,  that  it  would  be  grievous  to  see  wasted 
on  these  vacant  waters.  Dost  thou  not  perceive  how  fast 
and  gloomily  the  curtain  of  night  gathercth  about  us,  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  Nina  is  rapidly  getting  tojbe  our 
whole  world?  Even  the  Pinta  is  barely  distinguishable, 
like  a  shapeless  shadow  on  the  foaming  billows,  serving 
rather  as  a  beacon  to  warn  us  of  our  own  desolation,  than 
as  a  consort  to  cheer  us  with  her  presence  and  companion 
ship." 

"  I  have  never  known  you  thus  moody,  excellent  Senor, 
on  account  of  the  aspect  of  the  weather !" 

"  'Tis  not  usual  with  me,  young  lord  ;  but  my  heart 
is  loaded  with  its  glorious  secret.  Behold  ! — dost  thou  re 
mark  that  further  sign  of  the  warring  or  the  elements  ?" 

The  admiral,  as  he  spoke,  was  standing  with  his  face 
towards  Spain,  while  his  companion's  gaze  was  fastened  on 
the  portentous-looking  horizon  of  the  west,  around  which 
still  lingered  sufficient  light  to  render  its  frowns  as  chilling 
as  they  were  visible.  He  had  not  seen  the  change  that 
drew  the  remark  from  Columbus,  but,  turning  quickly,  he 
asked  an  explanation.  Notwithstanding  the  season,  the 
horizon  at  the  north-east  had  been  suddenly  illuminated 
by  a 'flash  of  lightning, and  even  while  the  admiral  was  re 
lating  the  fact,  and  pointing  out  the  quarter  of  the  heavens 
in  which  the  phenomenon  had  appeared,  two  more  flashes 
followed  each  other  in  quick  succession. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  383 

"  Senor  Vicente  " — called  out  Columbus,  leaning  forward 
in  a  way  to  overlook  a  group  of  dusky  figures  that  was 
collected  on  the  half-deck  beneath  him — "  Is  Senor  Vicente 
Yanez  of  your  number  ?" 

"  I  am  here,  Don  Christopher,  and  note  the  omen.  It  is 
the  sign  of  even  more  wind." 

"  We  shall  be  visited  with  a  tempest,  worthy  Vicente, 
and  it  will  come  from  that  quarter  of  the  heavens,  or  its  op 
posite.  Have  we  made  all  sure  in  the  caravel  ?" 

"  I  know  not  what  else  is  to  be  done,  Senor  Almirante. 
Our  canvass  is  at  the  lowest,  everything  is  well  lashed,  and 
we  carry  as  little  aloft  as  can  be  spared.  Sancho  Ruiz, 
look  you  to  the  tarpaulins,  lest  we  ship  more  water  than  will 
be  safe." 

"  Look  well  to  our  light,  too,  that  our  consort  may  not 
part  from  us  in  the  darkness.  This  is  no  time  for  sleep, 
Vicente — place  your  most  trusty  men  at  the  tiller." 

"  Sefior,  they  are  selected  with  care.  Sancho  Mundo, 
and  young  Pepe  of  Moguer,  do  that  duty,  at  present ;  others 
as  skilled  await  to  relieve  them,  when  their  watch  ends." 

"  'T  is  well,  good  Pinzon — neither  you  nor  I  can  close 
an  eye  to-night." 

The  precautions  of  Columbus  were  not  uncalled  for. 
About  an  hour  after  the  unnatural  flashes  of  lightning  had 
been  seen,  the  wind  rose  from  the  south-west,  favourably  as 
to  direction,  but  fearfully  as  to  force.  Notwithstanding  his 
strong  desire  to  reach  port,  the  admiral  found  it  prudent  to 
order  the  solitary  sail  that  was  set,  to  be  taken  in ;  and 
most  of  the  night  the  two  caravels  drove  before  the  gale, 
under  bare  poles,  heading  to  the  north-east.  We  say  both 
for  Martin  Alonzo,  practised  as  he  was  in  stormy  seas,  and 
disposed  as  he  was  to  act  only  for  himself,  now  the  great 
problem  was  solved,  kept  the  Pinta  so  near  the  Nina,  that 
few  minutes  passed  without  her  being  seen  careering  on  the 
summit  of  a  foaming  sea,  or  settling  bodily  into  the 
troughs,  as  she  drove  headlong  before  the  tempest ;  keep 
ing  side  by  side  with  her  consort,  however,  as  man  clings 
to  man  in  moments  of  dependency  and  peril. 

Thus  passed  the  night  of  the  13th,  the  day  bringing 
with  it  a  more  vivid  picture  of  the  whole  scene,  thoug'n  it 
was  thought  that  the  wind  somewhat  abated  in  its  force  as 


384  MEECEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  sun  arose.  Perhaps  this  change  existed  only  in  the 
imaginations  of  the  mariners,  the  light  usually  lessening 
the  appearance  of  danger,  by  enabling  men  to  face  it 
Each  caravel,  however,  set  a  little  canvass,  and  both  went 
foaming  ahead,  hurrying  towards  Spain  with  their  un 
looked-for  tidings.  As  the  day  advanced,  the  fury  of 
the  gale  sensibly  lessened ;  but  as  night  drew  on  again,  it 
returned  with  renewed  force,  more  adverse,  and  compelling 
the  adventurers  to  take  in  every  rag  of  sail  they  had  ven 
tured  to  spread.  Nor  was  this  the  worst.  The  caravels,  by 
this  time,  had  driven  up  into  a  tract  of  ocean  where  a  heavy 
cross-sea  was  raging,  the  effects  of  some  other  gale  that  had 
recently  blown  from  a  different  quarter.  Both  vessels  strug 
gled  manfully  to  lay  up  to  their  course,  under  these  adverse 
circumstances ;  but  they  began  to  labour  in  a  way  to  excite 
uneasiness  in  those  who  comprehended  the  fullest  powers 
of  the  machines,  and  who  knew  whence  the  reel  sources 
of  danger  were  derived.  As  night  approached,  Columbus 
perceived  that  the  Pinta  could  not  maintain  her  ground,  the 
strain  on  her  after-mast  proving  too  severe  to  be  borne, 
even  without  an  inch  of  canvass  spread.  Reluctantly  did 
he  order  the  Nina  to  edge  away  towards  her  consort,  sepa 
ration,  "at  such  a  moment,  being  the  evil  next  to  positive 
destruction. 

In  this  manner  the  night  of  the  14th  drew  around  our 
lone  and  sea-girt  adventurers.  What  had  been  merely 
menace  and  omens  the  previous  night,  were  now  a  dread 
reality.  Columbus,  himself,  declared  he  had  never  known 
a  barque  to  buffet  a  more  furious  tempest,  nor  did  he  affect 
to  conceal  from  Luis  the  extent  of  his  apprehensions.  With 
the  pilots,  and  before  the  crew,  he  was  serene  and  even 
cheerful ;  but  when  alone  with  our  hero,  he  became  frank 
and  humble.  Still  was  the  celebrated  navigator  always  calm 
and  firm.  No  unmanly  complaint  escaped  him,  though  his 
very  soul  was  saddened  at  the  danger  his  great  discoveries 
ran  of  being  for  ever  lost. 

Such  was  the  state  of  feeling  that  prevailed  with  the 
admiral,  as  he  sat  in  his  narrow  cabin,  in  the  first  hours 
of  that  appalling  night,  watching  for  any  change,  re 
lieving  or  disastrous,  that  might  occur.  The  howling  of 
the  winds,  which  fairly  scooped  up  from  the  surface  of  the 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE,  385 

raging  Atlantic,  the  brine  in  sheets,  was  barely  audible 
amid  the  roar  and  rush  of  the  waters.  At  times,  indeed, 
when  the  caravel  sunk  helplessly  between  two  huge  waves, 
the  fragment  of  sail  she  still  carried,  would  flap,  and  the  air 
seemed  hushed  and  still ;  and  then,  again,  as  the  buoyant 
machine  struggled  upward,  like  a  drowning  man  who  gains 
the  surface  by  frantic  efforts,  it  would  seem  as  if  the 
columns  of  air  were  about  to  bear  her  off  before  them,  as 
tightly  as  the  driving  spray.  Even  Luis,  albeit  little  apt 
to  take  alarm,  felt  that  their  situation  was  critical,  and  his 
constitutional  buoyancy  of  spirits  had  settled  down  in  a 
thoughtful  gravity,  that  was  unusual  with  him.  Had  a 
column  of  a  thousand  hostile  Moors  stood  before  our  hero, 
he  would,  have  thought  rather  of  the  means  of  overturning 
it  than  of  escape ;  but  this  warring  of  the  elements  ad 
mitted  of  no  such  relief.  It  appeared  actually  like  con 
tending  with  the  Almighty.  In  such  scenes,  indeed,  the 
bravest  find  no  means'  of  falling  back  on  their  resolution 
and  intrepidity ;  for  the  efforts  of  man  seem  insignificant 
and  bootless  as  opposed  to  the  will  and  power  of  God. 

"  'T  is  a  wild  night,  Senor,"  our  hero  observed  calmly, 
preserving  an  exterior  of  more  unconcern  than  he  really 
felt.  "  To  me  this  surpasseth  all  I  have  yet  witnessed  of 
the  fury  of  a  tempest." 

Columbus  sighed  heavily;  then  he  removed  his  hands 
from  his  face,  and  glanced  about  him,  as  if  in  search  of 
the  implements  he  wanted. 

"  Count  of  Llera,"  he  answered,  with  dignity,  "  there 
remaineth  a  solemn  duty  to  perform.  There  is  parchment 
in  the  draw  on  your  side  of  this  table,  and  here  are  the 
instruments  for  writing.  Let  us  acquit  ourselves  of  this 
important  trust  while  time  is  yet  mercifully  given  us,  God 
alone  knowing  how  long  we  have  to  live." 

Luis  did  not  blanch  at  these  portentous  words,  but  he 
looked  earnest  and  grave.  Opening  the  draw,  he  took  out 
the  parchment  and  laid  it  upon  the  table.  The  admiral 
now  seized  a  pen,  beckoning  to  his  companion  to  take  an 
other,  and  both  commenced  writing  as  well  as  the  incessant 
motion  of  the  light  caravel  would  allow.  The  task  was 
arduous,  but  it  was  clearly  executed.  As  Columbus  wrote 
a  sentence,  he  repeated  it  to  Luis,  who  copied  it  word  for 
33 


386  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

word,  on  his  own  piece  of  parchment.  The  substance  ot 
this  record  was  the  fact  of  the  discoveries  made,  the  lati 
tude  and  longitude  of  Espanola,  with  the  relative  positions 
of  the  other  islands,  and  a  brief*  account  of  what  he  had 
seen.  The  letter  was  directed  to  Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 
As  soon  as  each  had  completed  his  account,  the  admiral 
carefully  enveloped  his  missive  in  a  covering  of  waxed 
cloth,  Luis  imitating  him  in  all  things.  Each  then  took  a 
large  cake  of  wax,  and  scooping  a  hole  in  it,  the  packet 
was  carefully  secured  in  the  interior,  when  it  was  covered 
with  the  substance  that  had  been  removed.  Columbus  now 
sent  for  the  cooper  of  the  vessel,  who  was  directed  to  in 
close  each  cake  in  a  separate  barrel.  These  vessels  abound 
in  ships ;  and  ere  many  minutes,  the  two  letters  were  se 
curely  inclosed  in  the  empty  casks.  Each  taking  a  barrel, 
the  admiral  and  our  hero  now  appeared  again  on  the  half- 
deck.  So  terrific  was  the  night,  that  no  one  slept,  and  most 
of  the  people  of  the  Nina,  men  as  well  as  officers,  were 
crowded  together  on  the  gratings  near  the  main-mast, 
where  alone,  with  the  exception  of  the  still  more  privileged 
places,  they  considered  themselves  safe  from  being  swept 
overboard.  Indeed,  even  here  they  were  constantly  covered 
with  the  wash  of  the  sea,  the  poop  itself  not  being  pro 
tected  from  rude  visits  of  this  nature. 

As  soon  as  the  admiral  was  seen  again,  his  followers 
crowded  round  him,  solicitous  to  hear  his  opinion,  and 
anxious  to  learn  his  present  object.  To  have  told  the  truth, 
would  have  been  to  introduce  despair  where  hope  had 
already  nearly  ceased  ;  and,  merely  intimating  that  he  per 
formed  a  religious  vow,  Columbus,  with  his  own  hands, 
cast  his  barrel  into  the  hissing  ocean.  That  of  Luis  was 
placed  upon  the  poop,  in  the  expectation  that  it  would  float, 
should  the  caravel  sink. 

Three  centuries  and  a  half  have  rolled  by,  since  Co 
lumbus  took  this  wise  precaution,  and  no  tidings  have  ever 
been  obtained  of  that  cask.  Its  buoyancy  was  such  that 
it  might  continue  to  float  for  ages.  Covered  with  barnacles, 
it  may  still  be  drifting  about  the  waste  of  waters,  pregnant 
with  its  mighty  revelations.  It  is  possible,  it  may  have 
been  repeatedly  rolled  upon  some  sandy  beach,  and  as  fre 
quently  swept  off  again ;  and  it  may  have  been  passed  un» 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  387 

heeded,  on  a  thousand  occasions,  by  different  vessels,  con- 
founded  with  its  vulgar  fellows  that  are  so  often  seen  drift, 
mg  about  the  ocean.  Had  it  been  found,  it  would  have 
been  opened  ;  and  had  it  been  opened  by  any  civilized  man, 
it  is  next  to  impossible  that  an  occurrence  of  so  much  in- 
terest  should  have  been  totally  lost. 

This  duty  discharged,  the  admiral  had  leisure  to  look 
about  him.     The  darkness  was  now  so  great,  that,  but  for 
the  little  light  that  was  disengaged  from  the  troubled  water, 
it  would  have  been  difficult  to  distinguish  objects  at  the 
length  of  the  caravel.     No  one,  who  has  merely  been  at 
sea  in  a  tall  ship,  can  form  any  just  idea  of  the  situation  of 
the  Nina.     This  vessel,  little  more  than  a  large  felucca,  had 
actually  sailed  from  Spain  with  the  latine  rig,  that  is  so 
common  to  the  light  coasters  of  southern  Europe ;  a  rig 
that  had  only  been  altered  in  the  Canaries.     As  she  floated 
m  a  bay,  or  a  river,  her  height  above  the  water  could  not 
have  exceeded  four  or  five  feet,  and  now  that  she  was  strug 
gling  with  a  tempest,  in  a  cross  sea,  and  precisely  in  that 
part  of  the  Atlantic  where  the  rake  of  the  winds  is  the 
widest,  and  the  tumult  of  the  water  the  greatest,  it  seemed 
as  if  she  were  merely  some  aquatic  animal,  that  occasionally 
rose  to  the  surface  to  breathe.     There  were  moments  when 
the  caravel  appeared  to  be  irretrievably  sinking  into  the 
abyss  of  the  ocean  ;  huge  black  mounds  of  water  rising 
around  her  in  all  directions,  the  confusion    in  the  waves 
haying  destroyed  all  the  ordinary  symmetry  of  the  rolling 
billows.     Although  so  much  figurative  language  has  been 
used,  in  speaking  of  mountainous  waves,  it  would  not  be 
exceeding  the  literal  truth  to  add,  that  the  Nina's  yards 
were  often  below  the  summits  of  the  adjacent  seas,  which 
were  tossed  upward  in  so  precipitous  a  manner,  as  to  create 
a  constant  apprehension  of  their  falling  in  cataracts  on  her 
gratings  ,  for,  midship-deck,    strictly    speaking,   she    had 
none.     This,  indeed,  formed  the  great  source  of  danger ; 
since  one  falling  wave  might  have  filled  the  little  vessel,  and 
carried  her,  with  all  in  her,  hopelessly  to  the  bottom.     As 
it  was,  the  crests  of  seas  were  constantly  tumbling  inboard, 
or  shooting  athwart  the  hull  of  the  caravel,  in  sheets  of 
glittering  foam,  though  happily  never  with  sufficient  power 
to  overwhelm  the  buoyant  fabric.     At  such  perilous  instants, 


388  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILB. 

the  safety  of  the  craft  depended  on  the  frail  tarpawlings, 
Had  these  light  coverings  given  way,  two  or  three  succes 
sive  \\aves  would  infallibly  have  so  far  filled  the  hold,  as  to 
render  the  hull  water-logged ;  when  the  loss  of  the  vessel 
would  have  followed  as  an  inevitable  consequence. 

The  admiral  had  ordered  Vicente  Yafiez  to  carry  the 
foresail  close  reefed,  in  the  hope  of  dragging  the  caravel 
through  this  chaos  of  waters,  to  a  part  of  the  ocean  where 
the  waves  ran  more  regularly.  The  general  direction  of 
the  seas  too,  so  far  as  they  could  be  said  to  have  a  general 
direction  at  all,  had  been  respected,  and  the  Nina  had  strug 
gled  onward  —  it  might  be  better  to  say  waded  onward  — 
some  five  or  six  leagues,  since  the  disappearance  of  the  day 
and  found  no  change.  It  was  getting  to  be  near  midnight, 
and  still  the  surface  of  the  ocean  presented  the  same  wild 
aspect  of  chaotic  confusion.  Vicente  Yanez  approached 
the  admiral,  and  declared  that  the  barque  could  no  longer 
bear  the  rag  of  sail  she  carried. 

"The  jerk,  as  we  rise  on  the  sea,  goes  near  to  pull  the 
stern  out  of  the  craft,"  he  said,  "  and  the  backward  flap,  as 
we  settle  into  the  troughs,  is  almost  as  menacing.  The 
Nina  will  bear  the  canvass  no  longer,  with  safety." 

"  Who  has  seen  aught  of  Martin  Alonzo  within  the 
hour  ?"  demanded  Columbus,  looking  anxiously  in  the  direc 
tion  in  which  the  Pinta  ought  to  be  visible.  "  Thou  hast 
lowered  the  lantern,  Vicente  Yanez." 

"  It  would  stand  the  hurricane  no  longer.  From  time  to 
time  it  hath  been  shown,  and  each  signal  hath  been  an 
swered  by  my  brother." 

"  Let  it  be  shown  once  more.  This  is  a  moment  when  the 
presence  of  a  friend  gladdens  the  soul,  even  though  he  be 
helpless  as  ourselves." 

The  lantern  was  hoisted,  and,  after  a  steady  gaze,  a  faint 
and  distant  light  was  seen  glimmering  in  the  rack  of  the 
tempest.  The  experiment  was  repeated,  at  short  intervals, 
and  as  often  was  the  signal  answered,  at  increasing  dis 
tances,  until  the  light  of  their  consort  was  finally  lost  alto 
gether. 

"  The  Pinta's  mast  is  too  feeble  to  bear  even  its  gear,  in 
auch  a  gale,"  observed  Vicente  Yanez ;  "and  my  brother 


MERCEDES  OP   CASTILE.  389 

hath  found  it  impossible  to  keep  as  near  the  wind  as  we 
have  done.  He  goes  off  more  to  leeward." 

"  Let  the  foresail  be  secured,"  answered  Columbus,  "  as 
thou  sayest.  Our  feeble  craft  can  no  longer  bear  these 
violent  surges." 

Vicente  Yaiiez  now  mustered  a  few  of  his  ablest  men, 
and  went  forward  himself  to  see  this  order  executed.  At 
the  same  moment  the  helm  was  righted,  and  the  caravel 
slowly  fell  off,  until  she  got  dead  before  the  gale.  The  task 
of  gathering  in  the  canvass  was  comparatively  easy,  the 
yard  being  but  a  few  feet  above  the  deck,  and  little  besides 
the  clews  being  exposed.  Still  it  required  men  of  the 
firmest  nerve  and  the  readiest  hands  to  venture  aloft  at 
such  an  instant.  Sancho  took  one  side  of  the  mast  and 
Pepe  the  other,  both  manifesting  such  qualities  as  mark  the 
perfect  seaman,  only. 

The  caravel  was  now  drifting  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds 
and  waves,  the  term  scudding  being  scarcely  applicable  to 
the  motion  of  a  vessel  so  low,  and  which  was  so  perfectly 
sheltered  from  the  action  of  the  wind  by  the  height  of  the 
billows.  Had  the  latter  possessed  their  ordinary  regularity, 
the  low  vessel  must  have  been  pooped  ;  but,  in  a  measure, 
her  exemption  from  this  calamity  was  owing  to  an  irregu 
larity  that  was  only  the  source  of  a  new  danger.  Still,  the 
Nina  drove  ahead,  and  that  swiftly,  though  not  with  the 
velocity  necessary  to  outstrip  the  chasing  water,  had  the 
waves  followed  with  their  customary  order  and  rapidity. 
The  cross  seas  defeated  this  ;  wave  meeting  wave,  actually 
sending  those  crests  which  otherwise  would  have  rolled 
over  in  combing  foam,  upward  in  terrinc^'ete  d'eau. 

This  was  the  crisis  of  the  danger.  There  was  an  hour 
when  the  caravel  careered  amid  the  chaotic  darkness  with 
a  sort  of  headlong  fury,  not  unfrequently  dashing  forward 
with  her  broadside  to  the  sea,  as  if  the  impatient  stern  was 
bent  on  overtaking  the  stem,  and  exposing  all  to  the  ex 
treme  jeopardy  of  receiving  a  flood  of  water  on  the  beam. 
This  imminent  risk  was  only  averted  by  the  activity  of  the 
man  at  the  helm,  where  Sancho  toiled  with  all  his  skill  and 
energy,  until  the  sweat  rolled  from  his  brow,  as  if  exposed 
again  to  the  sun  of  the  tropics.  At  length  the  alarm  be 
came  so  great  and  general,  that  a  common  demand  was 
33* 


390  MERCEDES    OP    CAStlLE. 

made  to  the  admiral  to  promise  the  customary  religious 
oblations.  For  this  purpose,  all  but  the  men  at  the  helm 
assembled  aft,  and  preparations  were  made  to  cast  lots  for 
the  penance. 

"  Ye  are  in  the  hands  of  God,  my  friends,"  said  Colum 
bus,  "  and  it  is  meet  that  ye  all  confess  your  dependence 
on  his  goodness,  placing  your  security  on  his  blessings  and 
favour  alone.  In  this  cap  which  ye  see  in  the  hands  of  the 
Senor  de  Munos,  are  the  same  number  of  peas  that  we 
are  of  persons.  One  of  these  peas  bears  the  mark  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  and  he  who  shall  draw  forth  this  blessed  em 
blem,  stands  pledged  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  Santa  Maria 
de  Guadalupe,  bearing  a  waxen  taper  of  five  pounds  weight. 
As  the  chiefest  sinner  amongst  you,  no  less  than  as  your 
admiral,  the  first  trial  shall  be  mine." 

Here  Columbus  put  his  hand  into  the  cap,  and  on  draw 
ing  forth  a  pea,  and  holding  it  to  the  lantern,  it  was  found 
to  bear  on  its  surface  the  mark  he  had  mentioned. 

"  This  is  well,  Senor,"  said  one  of  the  pilots  ;  "  but  re 
place  the  pea,  and  let  the  chance  be  renewed  for  a  still 
heavier  penance,  and  that  at  a  shrine  which  is  most  in  re 
quest  with  all  good  Christians ;  I  mean  that  of  our  Lady 
of  Loretto.  One  pilgrimage  to  that  shrine  is  worth  two  to 
any  other." 

In  moments  of  emergency  the  religious  sentiment  is  apt 
to  be  strong;  and  this  proposition  was  seconded  with 
warmth.  The  admiral  cheerfully  consented  ;  and  when  all 
had  drawn,  the  marked  pea  was  found  in  the  hands  of  a 
common  seaman,  of  the  name  of  Pedro  de  Villa ;  one  who 
bore  no  very  good  name  for  either  piety  or  knowledge. 

"  'T  is  a  weary  and  costly  journey,"  grumbled  the  chosen 
penitent,  "  and  cannot  cheaply  be  made." 

"  Heed  it  not,  friend  Pedro,"  answered  Columbus :  "  the 
bodily  pains  shall  limit  thy  sufferings,  for  the  cost  of  the 
journey  shall  be  mine.  This  night  groweth  more  and  more 
terrific,  good  Bartolemeo  Roldan." 

"  That  doth  it,  Senor  Admiral,  and  I  am  little  content 
with  such  a  pilgrim  as  Pedro  here,  although  it  may  seem 
as  if  heaven  itself  directed  the  choice.  A  mass  in  Santa 
Clara  de  Moguer,  with  a  watcher  all  night  in  that  chapel, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  391 

will  be  of  more  account  than  your  distant  journeys  made 
by  such  an  one  as  he." 

This  opinion  wanted  not  for  supporters  among  the  sea 
men  of  Moguer,  and  a  third  trial  was  made  to  determine 
the  person.  Again  the  pea  was  withdrawn  from  the  cap  by 
the  admiral.  Still  the  danger  did  not  diminish,  the  caravel 
actually  threatening  to  roll  over  amid  the  turbulence  of  the 
waves, 

"  We  are  too  light,  Vicente  Yanez,"  said  Columbus,  "  and 
desperate  as  the  undertaking  seemeth,  we  must  make  an 
effort  to  fill  our  empty  casks  with  sea-water.  Let  hose  be 
carefully  introduced  beneath  the  tarpawlings,  and  send 
careful  hands  below  to  make  sure  that  the  water  do  not 
get  into  the  hold  instead  of  the  casks." 

This  order  was  obeyed,  and  several  hours  passed  in 
efforts  to  execute  this  duty.  The  great  difficulty  was  in 
protecting  the  men  who  raised  the  water  from  the  sea,  for 
while  the  whole  element  was  raging  in  such  confusion 
around  them,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  secure  a  single  drop 
in  a  useful  manner.  Patience  and  perseverance,  however, 
prevailed  in  the  end,  and,  ere  the  light  returned,  so  many 
empty  casks  had  been  filled,  as  evidently  to  aid  the  steadi 
ness  of  the  vessel.  Towards  morning  it  rained  in  torrents, 
and  the  wind  shifted  from  south  to  west,  losing  but  little  of 
its  force,  however.  At  this  juncture  the  foresail  was  again 
got  on  the  barque,  and  she  was  dragged  by  it,  through  a 
tremendous  sea,  a  few  miles  to  the  eastward. 

When  the  day  dawned,  the  scene  was  changed  for  the 
better.  The  Pinta  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  and  most  in  the 
Nina  believed  she  had  gone  to  the  bottom.  But  the  clouds 
had  opened  a  little,  and  a  sort  of  mystical  brightness  rested 
on  the  ocean,  which  was  white  with  foam,  and  still  hissing 
with  fury.  The  waves,  however,  were  gradually  getting 
to  be  more  regular,  and  the  seamen  no  longer  found  it  ne 
cessary  to  lash  themselves  to  the  vessel,  in  order  to  prevent 
being  washed  overboard.  Additional  sail  was  got  on  the 
caravel,  and  as  her  motion  ahead  increased,  she  became 
steadier,  and  more  certain  in  all  her  movements. 


892 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILB. 


CHAPTEE  XXY. 

"For  now,  from  sight  of  land  diverted  clear, 
They  drove  uncertain  o'er  the  pathless  deep; 
Nor  gave  the  adverse  gale  due  course  to  steer. 
Nor  durst  they  the  design'd  direction  keep: 
The  gathering  tempest  quickly  raged  so  high, 
The  wave-encompass'd  boat  but  faintly  reach'd  my  eye.'* 

Vision  of  Patience, 

SUCH  was  the  state  of  things  on  the  morning  of  the  15th, 
and  shortly  after  the  sun  arose,  the  joyful  cry  of  land  was 
neard  from  aloft.  It  is  worthy  of  being  mentioned  that 
this  land  was  made  directly  ahead,  so  accurate  were  all  the 
admiral's  calculations,  and  so  certain  did  he  feel  of  his  po 
sition  on  the  chart.  A  dozen  opinions,  however,  prevailed 
among  the  pilots  and  people  concerning  this  welcome  sight ; 
some  fancying  it  the  continent  of  Europe,  while  others  be 
lieved  it  to  be  Madeira.  Columbus,  himself,  publicly  an 
nounced  it  to  be  one  of  the  Azores. 

Each  hour  was  lessening  the  distance  between  this  wel 
come  spot  of  earth  and  the  adventurers,  when  the  gale 
chopped  directly  round,  bringing  the  island  dead  to  wind 
ward.  Throughout  a  long  and  weary  day  the  little  barque 
kept  turning  up  against  the  storm,  in  order  to  reach  this  much 
desired  haven,  but  the  heaviness  of  the  swell  and  the  foul 
wind  made  their  progress  both  slow  and  painful.  The  sun  set 
in  wintry  gloom  again,  and  the  land  still  lay  in  the  wrong 
quarter,  and  apparently  at  a  distance  that  was  unattainable. 
Hour  after  hour  passed,  and  still  in  the  darkness  the  Nina 
was  struggling  to  get  nearer  to  the  spot  where  the  land  had 
been  seen.  Columbus  never  left  his  post  throughout  all 
these  anxious  scenes,  for  to  him  it  seemed  as  if  the  fortunes 
of  his  discoveries  were  now  suspended,  as  it  might  be,  by 
a  hair.  Our  hero  was  less  watchful,  but  even  he  began  to 
feel  more  anxiety  in  the  result,  as  the  moment  approached 
when  the  fate  of  the  expedition  was  to  be  decided. 

As  the  sun  arose  every  eye  turned  inquiringly  around 
the  watery  view,  and,  to  the  common  disappointment,  110 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  393 

land  was  visible.  Some  fancied  all  had  been  illusion,  but 
the  admiral  believed  they  hud  passed  the  island  in  the 
darkness,  and  he  hove  about,  with  a  view  to  stand  farther 
south.  This  change  in  the  course  had  not  been  made  more 
than  an  hour  or  two,  when  land  was  again  dimly  seen 
astern,  and  in  a  quarter  where  it  could  not  have  been  pre 
viously  perceived.  For  this  island  the  caravel  tacked,  and 
until  dark  she  was  beating  up  for  it,  against  a  strong  gale 
and  a  heavy  sea.  Night  again  drew  around  her,  and  the 
land  once  more  vanished  in  the  gloom. 

At  the  usual  hour  of  the  previous  night,  the  people  of 
the  Nina  had  assembled  to  chant  the  salve  fac,  regina,  or 
the  evening  hymn  to  the  Virgin,  for  it  is  one  of  the  touching 
incidents  of  this  extraordinary  voyage,  that  these  rude 
sailors  first  carried  with  them  into  the  unknown  wastes  of 
the  Atlantic  the  songs  of  their  religion,  and  the  Christian's 
prayers.  While  thus  employed,  a  light  had  been  made  to 
leeward,  which  was  supposed  to  be  on  the  island  first  seen, 
thus  encouraging  the  admiral  in  his  belief  that  he  was  in 
the  centre  of  a  group,  and  that  by  keeping  well  to  wind 
ward,  he  would  certainly  find  himself  in  a  situation  to  reach 
a  port  in  the  morning.  That  morning,  however,  had  pro 
duced  no  other  change  than  the  one  noted,  and  he  was  now 
preparing  to  pass  another  night,  or  that  of  the  17th,  in  un 
certainty,  when  the  cry  of  land  ahead  suddenly  cheered 
the  spirits  of  all  in  the  vessel. 

The  Nina  stood  boldly  in,  and  before  midnight  she  was 
near  enough  to  the  shore  to  let  go  an  anchor ;  so  heavy 
were  both  wind  and  sea,  however,  that  the  cable  parted, 
thus  rejecting  them,  as  it  were,  from  the  regions  to  which 
they  properly  belonged.  Sail  was  made,  and  the  effort  to 
get  to  windward  renewed,  and  by  daylight  the  caravel  was 
enabled  to  run  in  and  get  an  anchorage  on  the  north  side 
of  the  island.  Here  the  wearied  and  almost  exhausted  ma 
riners  learned  that  Columbus  was  right,  as  usual,  and  that 
they  had  reached  the  island  of  St.  Mary,  one  of  the  Azores. 

It  does  not  belong  to  this  tale  to  record  all  the  incidents 
that  occurred  while  the  Nina  lay  at  this  port.  They  em 
braced  an  attempt  to  seize  the  caravel,  on  the  part  of  the 
Portuguese,  who,  as  they  had  been  the  last  to  harass  the 
admiral  on  his  departure  from  the  old  world,  were  the  first 


394  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

to  beset  him  on  his  return.  All  their  machinations  failed, 
however,  and  after  having  the  best  portion  of  his  crew  in 
their  power,  and  actually  having  once  sailed  from  the  island 
without  the  men,  the  admiral  finally  arranged  the  matter, 
and  took  his  departure  for  Spain,  with  all  his  people  on 
board,  on  the  24th  of  the  month. 

Providence  seemed  to  favour  the  passage  of  the  adven 
turers,  for  the  first  few  days ;  the  wind  being  favourable 
and  the  sea  smooth.  Between  the  morning  of  the  24th  and 
the  evening  of  the  26th,  the  caravel  had  made  nearly  a 
hundred  leagues  directly  on  her  course  to  Palos,  when  she 
was  met  by  a  foul  wind  and  another  heavy  sea.  The  gale 
now  became  violent  again,  though  sufficiently  favourable  to 
allow  them  to  steer  east,  a  little  northerly,  occasionally 
hauling  more  ahead.  The  weather  was  rough,  but  as  the 
admiral  knew  he  was  drawing  in  with  the  continent  of  Eu 
rope,  he  did  not  complain,  cheering  his  people  with  the 
hopes  of  a  speedy  arrival.  In  this  manner  the  time  passed 
until  the  turn  of  the  day,  Saturday,  March  2d,  when  Co 
lumbus  believed  himself  to  be  within  a  hundred  miles  of 
the  coast  of  Portugal,  the  long  continuance  of  the  scant 
southerly  winds  having  set  him  thus  far  north. 

The  night  commenced  favourably,  the  caravel  struggling 
ahead  through  a  tremendous  sea  that  was  sweeping  down 
from  the  south,  having  the  wind  abeam,  blowing  so  fresh, 
as  to  cause  the  sails  to  be  reduced  within  manageable  size. 
The  Nina  was  an  excellent  craft,  as  had  been  thoroughly 
proved,  and  she  was  now  steadier  than  when  first  assailed 
by  the  tempests,  her  pilots  having  filled  still  more  of  the 
casks,  than  they  had  been  able  to  do  during  the  late  storm. 

"  Thou  hast  lived  at  the  helm,  Sancho  Mundo,  since  the 
late  gales  commenced,"  said  the  admiral  cheerfully,  as, 
about  the  last  hour  of  the  first  watch,  he  passed  near  the 
post  of  the  old  mariner.  "  It  is  no  small  honour  to  hold 
that  station  in  the  cruel  gales  we  have  been  fated  to  en 
dure." 

"  1  so  consider  it,  Senor  Don  Almirante ;  and  I  hope 
their  illustrious  and  most  excellent  Highnesses,  the  two 
Sovereigns,  will  look  upon  it  with  the  same  eyes,  so  far  aa 
the  weight  of  the  duty  is  concerned." 

"  And  why  not  as  respects  the  honour,  friend  Sancho  ?" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  395 

put  in  Luis,  who  had  become  a  sworn  friend  of  the  seaman, 
since  the  rescue  of  the  rocks. 

"  Honour,  Senor  Master  Pedro,  is  cold  food  and  sits  ill  on 
a.  poor  man's  stomach.  One  dobla  is  worth  two  dukedoms 
to  such  a  man  as  I  am,  since  the  dobla  would  help  to  gain  me 
respect,  whereas  the  dukedoms  would  only  draw  down,  ridi 
cule  upon  my  head.  No,  no — Master  Pedro,  your  worship, 
give  me  a  pocket  full  of  gold,  and  leave  honours  to  such  as 
have  a  fancy  for  them.  If  a  man  must  be  raised  in  the 
world,  begin  at  the  beginning,  or  lay  a  solid  foundation ; 
after  which  he  may  be  made  a  knight  of  St.  James,  if  the 
sovereigns  have  need  of  his  name  to  make  out  their  list." 

"  Thou  art  too  garrulous  for  a  helmsman,  Sancho,  though 
so  excellent  otherwise,"  observed  the  admiral,  gravely. 
"  Look  to  thy  course ;  doblas  will  not  be  wanting,  when 
the  voyage  is  ended," 

"  Many  thanks,  Senor  Almirante ;  and,  as  a  proof  that 
my  eyes  are  not  shut,  even  though  the  tongue  wags,  I  will 
just  desire  your  excellency,  and  the  pilots,  to  study  that  rag 
of  a  cloud  that  is  gathering  up  here,  at  the  south-west,  and 
ask  yourselves  if  it  means  evil,  or  good." 

"  By  the  mass  !  the  man  is  right,  Don  Christopher  !"  ex 
claimed  Bartolemeo  Roldan,  who  was  standing  near  j  "  that 
is  a  most  sinister-looking  cloud,  and  is  not  unlike  those  that 
give  birth  to  the  white  squalls  of  Africa." 

"  See  to  it — see  to  it — good  Bartolemeo,"  returned  Co 
lumbus,  hastily.  "  We  have,  indeed,  counted  too  much  on 
our  good  fortune,  and  have  culpably  overlooked  the  aspect 
of  the  heavens.  Let  Vicente  Yanez  and  all  our  people  be 
called  ;  we  may  have  need  of  them." 

Columbus  now  ascended  to  the  poop,  where  he  got  a 
wider  and  a  better  view  of  the  ocean  and  the  skies.  The 
signs  were,  indeed,  as  portentous  as  they  had  been  sudden 
in  their  appearance.  The  atmosphere  was  filled  with  a 
white  mist,  that  resembled  a  light  smoke,  and  the  admiral 
had  barely  time  to  look  about  him,  when  a  roar  that  resem 
bled  the  trampling  of  a  thousand  horse  passing  a  bridge  at 
full  speed,  came  rushing*down  with  the  wind.  The  ocean 
was  heard  hissing,  as  is  usual  at  such  moments,  and  the 
tempest  burst  upon  the  little  bark,  as  if  envious  demons 


396  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

were  determined  she  should  never  reach  Spain,  with  the 
glorious  tidings  she  bore. 

A  report  like  that  of  a  heavy  discharge  of  musketry 
was  the  first  signal  that  the  squall  had  struck  the  Nina.  It 
came  from  the  rent  canvass,  every  sail  having  given  way 
at  the  same  instant.  The  caravel  heeled  until  the  water 
reached  her  masts,  and  there  was  a  breathless  instant,  when 
the  oldest  seaman  feared  that  she  would  be  forced  over  en 
tirely  upon  her  side.  Had  not  the  sails  split,  this  calamity 
might  truly  have  occurred.  Sancho,  too,  had  borne  the  tillei 
up  in  season,  and  when  the  Nina  recovered  from  the  shock 
she  almost  flew  out  of  the  water,  as  she  drove  before  the 
blast. 

This  was  the  commencement  of  a  new  gale,  which  even 
surpassed  in  violence  that  from  which  they  had  so  recently 
escaped.  For  the  first  hour,  awe  and  disappointment  al 
most  paralyzed  the  crew,  as  nothing  was  or  could  be  done 
to  relieve  them  from  the  peril  they  were  in.  The  vessel 
was  already  scudding  —  the  last  resource  of  seamen — and 
even  the  rags  of  the  canvass  were  torn,  piece  by  piece, 
from  the  spars,  sparing  the  men  the  efforts  that  would  have 
been  necessary  to  secure  them.  In  this  crisis,  again  the 
penitent  people  resorted  to  their  religious  rites ;  and  again 
it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  admiral  to  make  a  visit  to  some  fa 
vourite  shrine.  In  addition,  the  whole  crew  made  a  vow  to 
fast  on  bread  and  water,  the  first  Saturday  after  they  should 
arrive. 

"  It  is  remarkable,  Don  Christopher,"  said  Luis,  when  the 
two  were  again  alone  on  the  poop,  "  it  is  remarkable  that 
these  lots  should  fall  so  often  on  you.  Thrice  have  yoti 
been  selected  by  Providence  to  be  an  instrument  of  thank 
fulness  and  penitence.  —  This  cometh  of  your  exceeding 
faith !" 

"  Say,  rather,  Luis,  that  it  cometh  of  my  exceeding  sins. 
My  pride,  alone,  should  draw  down  upon  me  stronger  re 
bukes  than  these.  I  fear  me,  I  had  forgotten  that  I  was 
merely  an  agent  chosen  by  God,  to  work  his  own  great 
ends,  and  was  falling  into  the  sna'res  of  Satan,  by  fancying 
that  I,  of  my  own  wisdom  and  philosophy,  had  done  this 
great  exploit,  which  cometh  so  truly  of  God." 

"  Do  you  believe  us  in  danger,  Senor  ?" 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILB  397 

"  Greater  hazard  besets  us  now,  Don  Luis,  than  hath 
befallen  us  since  we  left  Palos.  We  are  driving  towards 
the  continent,  which  cannot  be  thirty  leagues  distant ;  and, 
as  thou  seest,  the  ocean  is  becoming  more  troubled  every 
hour.  Happily,  the  night  is  far  advanced,  and  with  the 
light  we  may  find  the  means  of  safety." 

The  day  did  re-appear  as  usual ;  for  whatever  disturb 
ances  occur  on  its  surface,  the  earth  continues  its  daily  re- 
volutions  in  the  sublimity  of  its  vastness,  affording  at  each 
change  to  the  mites  on  its  surface,  the  indubitable  proofs 
that  an  omnipotent  power  reigns  over  all  its  movements. 
The  light,  however,  brought  no  change  in  the  aspects  of 
the  ocean  and  sky.  The  wind  blew  furiously,  and  the  Nina 
struggled  along  amid  the  chaos  of  waters,  driving  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  continent  that  lay  before  her. 

About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  signs  of  land  became 
quite  apparent,  and  no  one  doubted  the  vicinity  of  the 
vessel  to  the  shores  of  Europe.  Nevertheless,  nought  was 
visible  but  the  raging  ocean,  the  murky  sky,  and  the  sort 
of  supernatural  light  with  which  the  atmosphere  is  so 
often  charged  in  a  tempest.  The  spot  where  the  sun  set, 
though  known  by  means  of  the  compass,  could  not  be 
traced  by  the  eye ;  and  again  night  closed  on  the  wild, 
wintry  scene,  as  if  the  little  caravel  was  abandoned  by 
hope  as  well  as  by  the  day.  To  add  to  the  apprehensions 
of  the  people,  a  high  cross  sea  was  running ;  and,  as  ever 
happens  with  vessels  so  small,  in  such  circumstances,  tons' 
weight  of  water  were  constantly  falling  inboard,  threatening 
destruction  to  the  gratings  and  their  frail  coverings  of  tar 
red  cloth. 

"  This  is  the  most  terrible  night  of  all,  son  Luis,"  said 
Columbus,  about  an  hour  after  the  darkness  had  drawn 
around  them.  "  If  we  escape  this  night,  well  may  we  deem 
ourselves  favoured  of  God  !" 

"  And  yet  you  speak  calmly,  Senor ;  as  calmly  as  if  your 
heart  was  filled  with  hope." 

"  The  seaman  that  cannot  command  his  nerves  and  voice, 

even  in  the  utmost  peril,  hath  mistaken  his  calling.     But  I 

feel  calm,  Luis,  as  well  as  seem  calm.     God  hath  us  in  his 

Keeping,  and  will  do  that  which  most  advanceth  his  own 

34  * 


398  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

holy  will.  My  boys — my  two  poor  boys  trouble  me  sorely  j 
but  even  the  fatherless  are  not  forgotten !" 

"  If  we  perish,  Senor,  the  Portuguese  will  remain  mas 
ters  of  our  secret:  to  them  only  is  it  now  known,  ourselves 
excepted,  since,  for  Martin  Alonzo,  I  should  think,  there  is 
little  hope." 

"  This  is  another  source  of  grief;  yet  have  I  taken  such 
steps  as  will  probably  put  their  highnesses  on  the  mainte 
nance  of  their  rights.  The  rest  must  be  trusted  to  heaven." 

At  that  moment  was  heard  the  startling  cry  of  "  land." 
This  word,  which  so  lately  would  have  been  the  cause  of 
sudden  bursts  of  joy,  was  now  the  source  of  new  uneasi 
ness.  Although  the  night  was  dark,  there  were  moments 
when  the  gloom  opened,  as  it  might  be,  for  a  mile  or  two 
around  the  vessel,  and  when  objects  as  prominent  as  a  coast 
could  be  seen  with  sufficient  distinctness.  Both  Columbus 
and  our  hero  hastened  to  the  forward  part  of  the  caravel,  at 
this  cry,  though  even  this  common  movement  was  perilous, 
in  order  to  obtain  the  best  possible  view  of  the  shore. 
It  was,  indeed,  so  near,  that  all  on  board  heard,  or  fancied 
they  heard,  the  roar  of  the  surf  against  the  rocks.  That  it 
was  Portugal,  none  doubted,  and,  to  stand  on  in  the  present 
uncertainty  of  their  precise  position,  or  without  a  haven  to 
enter,  would  be  inevitable  destruction.  There  remained 
only  the  alternative  to  ware  with  the  caravel's  head  off 
shore,  and  endeavour  to  keep  an  offing  until  morning. 
Columbus  had  no  sooner  mentioned  this  necessity,  than 
Vicente  Yanez  set  about  its  execution  in  the  best  manner 
circumstances  would  allow. 

Hitherto  the  wind  had  been  kept  a  little  on  the  starboard 
quarter,  the  caravel  steering  east,  a  point  or  two  north,  and 
it  was  now  the  aim  to  lay  her  head  so  far  round  as  to  per 
mit  her  to  steer  north,  a  point  or  two  west.  By  the  manner 
in  which  the  coast  appeared  to  trend,  it  was  thought  that 
this  variation  in  the  direction  might  keep  them,  for  a  few 
hours,  at  a  sufficient  distance  from  the  shore.  But  this  ma 
noeuvre  could  not  be  effected  without  the  aid  of  canvass,  and 
an  order  was  issued  to  set  the  foresail.  The  first  flap  of 
the  canvass,  as  it  was  loosened  to  the  gale,  was  tremendous, 
the  jerk  threatening  to  tear  the  foremast  from  its  step,  and 
then  all  was  still  as  death  forward,  the  hull  sinking  so  low 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  399 

behind  a  barrier  of  water,  as  actually  to  becalm  the  sail. 
Sancho  and  his  associate  seized  the  favourable  moment  to 
secure  the  clews,  and,  as  the  little  barque  struggled  upward 
again,  the  canvass  filled  with  some  such  shock  as  is  felt  at 
the  sadden  checking  of  a  cable.  From  this  moment  the 
Nina  drew  slowly  off  to  sea  again,  though  her  path  lay 
through  such  a  scene  of  turbulent  water,  as  threatened,  at 
each  instant,  to  overwhelm  her. 

"  Luis !"  said  a  soft  voice,  at  our  hero's  elbow,  as  the 
latter  stood  clinging  to  the  side  of  the  door  of  the  cabin  ap 
propriated  to  the  females — "  Luis — Hayti  better — Mattinao 
better — much  bad,  Luis !" 

It  was  Ozema,  who  had  risen  from  her  pallet  to  look  out 
upon  the  appalling  view  of  the  ocean.  During  the  mild 
weather  of  the  first  part  of  the  passage,  the  intercourse  be 
tween  Luis  and  the  natives  on  board,  had  been  constant 
and  cheerful.  Though  slightly  incommoded  by  her  situa 
tion,  Ozema  had  always  received  his  visits  with  guileless 
delight,  and  her  progress  in  Spanish  had  been  such  as  to 
astonish  even  her  teacher.  Nor  were  the  means  of  com 
munication  confined  altogether  to  the  advance  of  Ozema, 
since  Luis,  in  his  endeavours  to  instruct  her,  had  acquired 
nearly  as  many  words  of  her  native  tongue,  as  he  had 
taught  her  of  his  own.  In  this  manner  they  conversed, 
resorting  to  both  dialects  for  terms,  as  necessity  dictated. 
We  shall  give  a  free  translation  of  what  was  said,  endeavour 
ing,  at  the  same  time,  to  render  the  dialogue  characteristic 
and  graphic. 

"  Poor  Ozema !"  returned  our  hero,  drawing  her  gently 
to  a  position  where  he  could  support  her  against  the  effects 
of  the  violent  motion  of  the  caravel  —  "thou  must  regret 
Hayti,  indeed,  and  the  peaceful  security  of  thy  groves !" 

"  Caonabo  there,  Luis." 

"  True,  innocent  girl ;  but  even  Caonabo  is  not  as  terrible 
as  this  anger  of  the  elements." 

«  NO — no — no — Caonabo  much  bad.  Break  Ozema's 
heart.  No  Caonabo — no  Hayti." 

"  Thy  dread  of  the  Carib  chief,  dear  Ozema,  hath  upset 
thy  reason,  in  part.  Thou  hast  a  God,  as  well  as  we 
Christians,  and,  like  us,  must  put  thy  trust  in  him ;  he 
alone  can  now  protect  thee." 

"  What  protect  ?" 


40U  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILK. 

"  Care  for  thee,  Ozema.  See  that  thou  dost  not  come  to 
harm.  Look  to  thy  safety  and  welfare." 

"  Luis  protect  Ozema.  So  promise  Mattinao — so  promise 
Ozema — so  promise  heart." 

"  Dear  girl,  so  will  I,  to  the  extent  of  my  means.  But 
what  can  I  do  against  this  tempest  ?" 

"  What  Luis  do  against  Caonabo  ? — kill  him — cut  Indians 
— make  him  run  away  !" 

"  This  was  easy  to  a  Christian  knight,  who  carried  a 
good  sword  and  buckler,  but  it  is  impossible  against  a  tem 
pest.  We  have  only  one  hope,  and  that  is  to  trust  in  the 
Spaniard's  God." 

"  Spaniards  great — have  great  God." 

'*  There  is  but  one  God,  Ozema,  and  he  ruleth  all,  whe 
ther  in  Hayti  or  in  Spain.  Thou  rememberest  what  I  have 
told  thee  of  his  love,  and  of  the  manner  of  his  death,  that 
we  might  all  be  saved,  and  thou  didst  then  promise  to 
worship  him,  and  to  be  baptised  when  we  should  reach  my 
country." 

"  God  !  —  Ozema  do,  what  Ozema  say.  Love  Luis's 
God  already." 

"  Thou  hast  seen  the  holy  cross,  Ozema,  and  hast  pro 
mised  me  to  kiss  it,  and  bless  it." 

"Where  cross?  See  no  cross  —  up  in  heaven?  — 01 
where?  Show  Ozema  cross,  now  —  Luis's  cross  —  cross 
Luis  love." 

The  young  man  wore  the  parting  gift  of  Mercedes  near 
his  heart,  and  raising  a  hand  he  withdrew  the  small  jewel, 
pressed  it  to  his  own  lips  with  pious  fervour,  and  then 
offered  it  to  the  Indian  girl. 

"  See" — he  said — "  this  is  a  cross  ;  we  Spaniards  re 
vere  and  bless  it.  It  is  our  pledge  of  happiness." 

"  That  Luis's  God  ?"  inquired  Ozema,  in  a  little  surprise. 

"Not  so,  my  poor  benighted  girl" — 

"  What  benighted  ?"  interrupted  the  quick-witted  Haytian, 
eagerly,  for  no  term  that  the  young  man  could  or  did  apply 
to  her,  fell  unheeded  on  her  vigilant  and  attentive  ear. 

"  Benighted  means  those  who  have  never  heard  of  the 
cross,  or  of  its  endless  mercies." 

"Ozema  no  benighted  now,"  exclaimed  the  other,  press 
ing  the  bauble  to  her  bosom.  "  Got  cross — keep  cross— 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  401 

no  benighted  again,  never.  Cross,  Mercedes  " — for,  by  one 
of  those  mistakes  that  are  not  unfrequent  in  the  commence 
ment  of  all  communications  between  those  who  speak  dif 
ferent  tongues,  the  young  Indian  had  caught  the  notion, 
from  many  of  Luis's  involuntary  exclamations,  that  "  Mer 
cedes  "  meant  all  that  was  excellent. 

"  I  would,  indeed,  that  she  of  whom  thou  speakest  had 
thee  in  her  gentle  care,  that  she  might  lead  thy  pure  soul 
to  a  just  knowledge  of  thy  Creator !  That  cross  cometh 
of  Mercedes,  if  it  be  not  Mercedes  herself,  and  thou  dost 
well  in  loving  it,  and  in  blessing  it.  Place  the  chain  around 
thy  neck,  Ozema,  for  the  precious  emblem  may  help  in 
preserving  thee,  should  the  gale  throw  us  on  the  coast,  ere 
morning.  That  cross  is  a  sign  of  undying  love." 

The  girl  understood  enough  of  this,  especially  as  the  di 
rection  was  seconded  by  a  little  gentle  aid,  on  the  part  of 
our  hero,  to  comply,  and  the  chain  was  soon  thrown  around 
her  neck,  with  the  holy  emblem  resting  on  her  bosom. 
The  change  in  the  temperature,  as  well  as  a  sense  of  pro 
priety,  had  induced  the  admiral  to  cause  ample  robes  of 
cotton  to  be  furnished  all  the  females,  and  Ozema's  beautiful 
form  was  now  closely  enveloped  in  one,  and  beneath  its 
folds  she  had  hidden  the  jewel,  which  she  fondly  hugged  to 
her  heart,  as  a  gift  of  Luis.  Not  so  did  the  young  man, 
himself,  view  the  matter.  He  had  merely  meant  to  lend, 
in  a  moment  of  extreme  peril,  that  which  the  superstitious 
feeling  of  the  age  seriously  induced  him  to  fancy  might 
prove  a  substantial  safeguard.  As  Ozema  was  by  no  means 
expert  in  managing  the  encumbrance  of  a  dress  to  which 
she  was  unaccustomed,  even  while  native  taste  had  taught 
her  to  throw  it  around  her  person  gracefully,  the  young 
man  had  half  unconsciously  assisted  in  placing  the  cross 
in  its  new  position,  when  a  violent  roll  of  the  vessel  com 
pelled  him  to  sustain  the  girl  by  encircling  her  waist  with 
an  arm.  Partly  yielding  to  the  motion  of  the  caravel, 
which  was  constantly  jerking  even  the  mariners  from  their 
feet,  and  probably  as  much  seduced  by  the  tenderness  of 
her  own  heart,  Ozema  did  not  rebuke  this  liberty,  the  first 
our  hero  had  ever  offered,  but  stood,  in  confiding  innocence, 
upheld  by  the  arm  that,  of  all  others,  it  was  most  grateful 
to  her  feelings  to  believe  destined  to  perform  that  office  for 
34* 


402  MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE. 

life.  In  another  moment,  her  head  rested  on  his  bosom, 
and  her  face  was  turned  upward,  with  the  eyes  fastened  on 
the  countenance  of  the  young  noble. 

'*  Thou  art  less  alarmed  at  this  terrific  storm,  Ozema, 
than  I  could  have  hoped.  Apprehension  for  thee  has  made 
me  more  miserable  than  I  could  have  thought  possible,  and 
yet  thou  seemest  not  to  be  disturbed." 

"  Ozema  no  unhappy — no  want  Hayti — no  want  Matti- 
nao — no  want  any  thing — Ozema  happy  now.  Got  cross." 

"  Sweet,  guileless  innocent,  may'st  thou  never  know  any 
other  feelings  ! — confide  in  thy  cross." 

"  Cross,  Mercedes  —  Luis,  Mercedes.  Luis  and  Ozema 
keep  cross  for  ever." 

It  was  perhaps  fortunate  for  this  high-prized  happiness 
of  the  girl,  that  the  Nina  now  took  a  plunge  that  unavoid 
ably  compelled  our  hero  to  release  his  hold  of  her  person, 
or  to  drag  her  with  him  headlong  towards  the  place  where 
Columbus  stood,  sheltering  his  weatherbeaten  form  from  a 
portion  of  the  violence  of  the  tempest.  When  he  recovered 
his  feet,  he  perceived  that  the  door  of  the  cabin  was  closed, 
and  that  Ozema  was  no  longer  to  be  seen. 

"  Dost  thou  find  our  female  friends  terrified  by  this  ap 
palling  scene,  son  Luis  ?"  Columbus  quietly  demanded,  for, 
though  his  own  thoughts  had  been  much  occupied  by  the 
situation  of  the  caravel,  he  had  noted  all  that  had  just 
passed  so  near  him.  "  They  are  stout  of  heart,  but  even 
an  amazon  might  quail  at  this  tempest." 

"  They  heed  it  not,  Senor,  for  I  think  they  understand  it 
not.  The  civilized  man  is  so  much  their  superior  that  both 
men  and  women  appear  to  have  every  confidence  in  our 
means  of  safety.  I  have  just  given  Ozema  a  cross,  and 
bade  her  place  her  greatest  reliance  on  that." 

"  Thou  hast  done  well ;  it  is  now  the  surest  protector 
of  us  all.  Keep  the  head  of  the  caravel  as  near  to  the 
wind  as  may  be,  Sancho,  when  it  lulls,  every  inch  off  shore 
being  so  much  gained  in  the  way  of  security." 

The  usual  reply  was  made,  and  then  the  conversation 
ceased ;  the  raging  of  the  elements,  and  the  fearful  manner 
in  which  the  Nina  was  compelled  to  struggle  literally  to 
keep  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  affording  ample  matter 
for  the  reflections  of  all  who  witnessed  the  scene. 

In  this  manner  passed  the  night.     When  the  day  broke, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  403 

it  opened  on  a  scene  of  wintry  violence.  The  sun  was  not 
visible  that  day,  the  dark  vapour  driving  so  low  before  the 
tempest,  as  to  lessen  the  apparent  altitude  of  the  vault  of 
heaven  one-half,  but  the  ocean  was  an  undulating  sheet  of 
foam.  High  land  soon  became  visible  nearly  abeam  of  the 
caravel,  and  all  the  elder  mariners  immediately  pronounced 
it  to  be  the  rock  of  Lisbon.  As  soon  as  this  important  fact 
was  ascertained,  the  admiral  wore  with  the  head  of  the 
caravel  in-shore,  and  laid  his  course  for  the  mouth  of  the 
Tagus.  The  distance  was  not  great,  some  twenty  miles 
perhaps ;  but  the  necessity  of  facing  the  tempest,  and  of 
making  sail,  on  a  wind,  in  such  a  storm,  rendered  the 
situation  of  the  caravel  more  critical  than  it  had  been  in  all 
her  previous  trials.  At  that  moment,  the  policy  of  the 
Portuguese  was  forgotten,  or  held  to  be  entirely  a  secondary 
consideration,  a  port  or  shipwreck  appearing  to  be  the  alter 
native.  Every  inch  of  their  weatherly  position  became  of 
importance  to  the  navigators,  and  Vicente  Yafiez  placed 
himself  near  the  helm  to  watch  its  play  with  the  vigilance 
of  experience  and  authority.  No  sail  but  the  lowest  could 
be  carried,  and  these  were  reefed  as  closely  as  their  con 
struction  would  allow. 

In  this  manner  the  tempest-tossed  little  barque  struggled 
forward,  now  sinking  so  low  in  the  troughs,  that  land, 
ocean,  and  all  but  the  frowning  billows,  with  the  clouds  above 
their  heads,  were  lost  to  view ;  and  now  rising,  as  it  might 
be,  from  the  calm  of  a  sombre  cavern,  into  the  roaring, 
hissing,  and  turbulence  of  a  tempest.  These  latter  mo 
ments  were  the  most  critical.  When  the  light  hull  reached 
the  summit  of  a  wave,  falling  over  to  windward  by  the 
yielding  of  the  element  beneath  her,  it  seemed  as  if  the  next 
billow  must  inevitably  overwhelm  her ;  and  yet,  so  vigilant 
was  the  eye  of  Vicente  Yanez,  and  so  ready  the  hand  of 
Sancho,  that  she  ever  escaped  the  calamity.  To  keep  the 
wash  of  the  sea  entirely  out,  was,  however,  impossible  ;  and 
it  often  swept  athwart  the  deck,  forward,  like  the  sheets  of 
a  cataract,  that  part  of  the  vessel  being  completely  aban 
doned  by  the  crew. 

"  All  now  depends  on  our  canvass,"  said  the  admiral, 
with  a  sigh  ;  "  if  that  stand,  we  are  safer  than  when  scud- 


404  MERCEDES   OP  CASTILE. 

ding,  and  I  think  God  is  with  us.     To  me  it  seemeth  as  if 
the  wind  was  a  little  less  violent  than  in  the  night." 

"  Perhaps  it  is,  Seiior.     I  believe  we  gain  on  the  place 
you  pointed  out  to  me." 

"  It  is  yon  rocky  point.     That  weathered,  and  we  are 
safe.    That  not  weathered,  and  we  see  our  common  grave." 

"  The  caravel  behaveth  nobly,  and  I  will  still  hope." 

An  hour  later,  and  the  land  was  so  near  that  human 
beings  were  seen  moving  on  it.  There  are  moments  when 
life  and  death  may  be  said  to  be  equally  presented  to  the 
seaman's  sight.  On  one  side  is  destruction  ;  on  the  other 
security.  As  the  vessel  drew  slowly  in  towards  the  shore, 
not  only  was  the  thunder  of  the  surf  upon  the  rocks  audible, 
but  the  frightful  manner  in  which  the  water  was  tossed  up 
ward  in  spray,  gave  additional  horrors  to  the  view.  On 
such  occasions,  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  jets  (Veau 
hundreds  of  feet  in  height,  and  the  driving  spray  is  often 
carried  to  a  great  distance  inland,  before  the  wind.  Lisbon 
has  the  whole  rake  of  the  Atlantic  before  it,  unbroken  by 
island  or  headland ;  and  the  entire  coast  of  Portugal  is  one 
of  the  most  exposed  of  Europe.  The  south-west  gales,  in 
particular,  drive  across  twelve  hundred  leagues  of  ocean, 
and  the  billows  they  send  in  upon  its  shores,  are  truly  ap 
palling.  Nor  was  the  storm  we  are  endeavouring  to  de 
scribe,  one  of  common  occurrence.  The  season  had  been 
tempestuous,  seldom  leaving  the  Atlantic  any  peace ;  and 
the  surges  produced  by  one  gale  had  not  time  to  subside, 
ere  another  drove  up  the  water  in  a  new  direction,  giving 
rise  to  that  irregularity  of  motion  which  most  distresses  a 
vessel,  and  which  is  particularly  hazardous  to  small  ones. 

"  She  looks  up  better,  Don  Christopher  !"  exclaimed  Luis, 
as  they  got  within  musket-shot  of  the  desired  point, — "  an 
other  ten  minutes,  of  as  favourable  a  slant,  and  we  do  it !" 

"Thou  art  right,  son,"  answered  the  admiral  calmly. 
"  Were  any  calamity  to  throw  us  ashore  on  yonder  rocks, 
two  planks  of  the  Nina  would  not  hold  together  five  min 
utes.  Ease  her —  good  Vicente  Yanez —  ease  her,  quite  a 
point,  and  let  her  go  through  the  water.  All  depends  on 
the  canvass,  and  we  can  spare  that  point.  She  moves, 
Luis  \ — Regard  the  land,  and  thou  wilt  now  see  our  motion." 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  405 

"True,  Senor,  but  the  caravel  is  drawing  frightfully 
near  the  point !" 

"  Fear  not ;  a  bold  course  is  often  the  safest.  It  is  a  deep 
shore,  and  we  need  but  little  water." 

No  one  now  spoke.  The  caravel  was  dashing  in  towards 
the  point  with  appalling  speed,  and  every  minute  brought 
her  perceptibly  nearer  to* the  cauldron  of  water  that  was 
foaming  around  it.  Without  absolutely  entering  within  this 
vortex,  the  Nina  flew  along  its  edge,  and,  in  five  minutes 
more,  she  had  a  direct  course  up  the  Tagus  open  before  her. 
The  mainsail  was  now  taken  in,  and  the  mariners  stood 
fearlessly  on,  certain  of  a  haven,  and  security. 

Thus,  virtually,  ended  the  greatest  marine  exploit  the 
world  has  ever  witnessed.  It  is  true  that  a  run  round  to 
Palos  was  subsequently  made,  but  it  was  insignificant  in 
distance,  and  not  fruitful  in  incidents.  Columbus  had  ef 
fected  his  vast  purpose,  and  his  success  was  no  longer  a 
secret.  His  reception  in  Portugal  is  known,  as  well  as  all 
the  leading  occurrences  that  took  place  at  Lisbon.  He  an 
chored  in  the  Tagus  on  the  4th  of  March,  and  left  it  again 
on  the  13th.  On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  Nina  was 
off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  when  she  hauled  in  to  the  eastward, 
with  a  light  air  from  the  north.  At  sunrise  on  the  15th 
she  was  again  off  the  bar  of  Saltes,  after  an  absence  of 
only  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  days. 


406  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 


•*  One  evening-tide,  as  with  her  crones  she  sate, 
Making  sweet  solace  of  some  scandall  new, 
A  boisterous  noise  came  thondring  at  the  gate, 
And  soon  a  sturdie  boy  approach'd  in  view ; 
With  gold  far  glitteraund  were  his  vestments  blue, 
And  pye-shaped  hat,  and  of  the  silver  sheen 
An  huge  broad  buckle  glaunst  in  either  shoe, 
And  round  his  necke  an  Indian  kerchiefe  clean, 
And  in  his  hand  a  switch  ; — a  jolly  wight  I  ween." 

MICELE. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  noble  conceptions  that  lay  at  the 
bottom  of  the  voyage  we  have  just  related,  the  perseve 
rance  and  self-devotion  that  were  necessary  to  its  accom 
plishment,  and  the  magnificence  of  the  consequences  that 
were  dependent  on  its  success,  it  attracted  very  little  atten 
tion,  amid  the  stirring  incidents  and  active  selfishness  of  the 
age,  until  the  result  was  known.  Only  a  month  before  the 
arrangement  was  made  with  Columbus,  the  memorable 
edict  of  the  two  sovereigns,  for  the  expulsion  of  the  Jews, 
had  been  signed ;  and  this  uprooting  of  so  large  a  portion 
of  the  Spanish  nation  was,  of  itself,  an  event  likely  to 
draw  off  the  eyes  of  the  people,  from  an  enterprise  deemed 
as  doubtful,  and  which  was  sustained  by  means  so  insignifi 
cant,  as  that  of  the  great  navigator.  The  close  of  the 
month  of  July  had  been  set  as  the  latest  period  for  the  de 
parture  of  these  persecuted  religionists ;  and  thus,  at  the 
very  time,  almost  on  the  very  day,  when  Columbus  sailed 
from  Palos,  was  the  attention  of  the  nation  directed  towards 
what  might  be  termed  a  great  national  calamity.  The 
departure  was  like  the  setting  forth  from  Egypt,  the  high 
ways  being  thronged  with  the  moving  masses,  many  of 
which  were  wandering  they  knew  not  whither. 

The  king  and  queen  had  left  Granada  in  May,  and  after 
remaining  two  months  in  Castile,  they  passed  into  Aragon, 
about  the  commencement  of  August,  in  which  kingdom 
they  happened  to  be  when  the  expedition  sailed.  Here 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  407 

they  remained  throughout  the  rest  of  the  season,  settling 
affairs  of  importance,  and,  quite  probably,  disposed  to  avoid 
the  spectacle  of  the  misery  their  Jewish  edict  had  inflicted, 
Castile  having  contained  much  the  grsater  portion  of  that 
class  of  their  subjects.  In  October,  a  visit  was  paid  to  the 
turbulent  Catalans ;  the  court  passing  the  entire  winter  in 
Barcelona.  Nor  did  momentous  events  cease  to  occupy 
them  while  in  this  part  of  their  territories.  On  the  7th  of 
December  an  attempt  was  made  on  the  life  of  Ferdinand  ; 
the  assassin  inflicting  a  severe,  though  not  a  fatal,  wound, 
by  a  blow  on  the  neck.  During  the  critical  weeks  in  which 
the  life  of  the  king  was  deemed  to  be  in  danger,  Isabella 
watched  at  his  bed-side,  with  the  untiring  affection  of  a  de 
voted  wife ;  and  her  thoughts  dwelt  more  on  her  affections 
than  on  any  worldly  aggrandisement.  Then  followed  the 
investigations  into  the  motives  of  the  criminal ;  conspiracies 
ever  being  distrusted  in  such  cases,  although  history  would 
probably  show  that  much  the  greater  part  of  these  wicked 
attempts  on  the  lives  of  sovereigns,  are  more  the  results  of 
individual  fanaticism,  than  of  any  combined  plans  to  destroy. 

Isabella,  whose  gentle  spirit  grieved  over  the  misery  her 
religious  submission  had  induced  her  to  inflict  on  the  Jews, 
was  spared  the  additional  sorrow  of  mourning  for  a  hus 
band,  taken  away  by  means  so  violent.  Ferdinand  gradu 
ally  recovered.  All  these  occurrences,  together  with  the 
general  cares  of  the  state,  had  served  to  divide  the  thoughts 
of  even  the  queen  from  the  voyage  ;  while  the  politic  Ferdi 
nand,  in  his  mind,  had  long  since  set  down  the  gold  ex 
pended  in  the  outfit  as  so  much  money  lost. 

The  balmy  spring  of  the  south  opened  as  usual,  and  the 
fertile  province  of  Catalonia  had  already  become  delightful 
with  the  fresh  verdure  of  the  close  of  March.  The  king 
had,  for  some  weeks,  resumed  his  usual  occupations,  and 
Isabella,  relieved  from  her  conjugal  fears,  had  again  fallen 
into  the  quiet  current  of  her  duties  and  her  usual  acts  of 
beneficence.  Indisposed  to  the  gorgeousness  of  her  station 
by  the  recent  events,  and  ever  pining  for  the  indulgence  of 
the  domestic  affections,  this  estimable  woman,  notwithstand 
ing  the  strong  natural  disposition  she  had  always  felt  for 
that  sort  of  life,  had  lived  more  among  her  children  and 
confidants,  of  late,  than  had  been  even  her  wont.  Her  ear- 


40G  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

liest  friend,  the  Marchioness  of  Moya,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
was  ever  near  her  person,  and  Mercedes  passed  most  of  hef 
time  either  in  the  immediate  presence  of  her  royal  mistress, 
or  in  that  of  her  children. 

There  had  been  a  small  reception  one  evening,  near  the 
close  of  the  month ;  and  Isabella,  glad  to  escape  from  such 
scenes,  had  withdrawn  to  her  private  apartments,  to  indulge 
in  conversation  in  the  circle  she  so  much  loved.  It  was 
near  the  hour  of  midnight,  the  king  being  at  work,  as  usual, 
in  an  adjoining  closet.  There  were  present,  besides  the 
members  of  the  royal  family  and  Dona  Beatriz  with  her 
lovely  niece,  the  Archbishop  of  Granada,  Luis  de  St.  An 
gel,  and  Alonzo  de  Quintanilla,  the  two  last  of  whom  had 
been  summoned  by  the  prelate,  to  discuss  some  question  of 
clerical  finance  before  their  illustrious  mistress.  All  busi 
ness,  however,  was  over,  and  Isabella  was  rendering  the 
circle  agreeable  with  the  condescension  of  a  princess,  and 
the  gentle  grace  of  a  woman. 

"  Are  there  fresh  tidings  from  the  unfortunate  and  de 
luded  Hebrews,  Lord  Archbishop?"  demanded  Isabella, 
whose  kind  feelings  ever  led  her  to  regret  the  severity 
which  religious  dependence  on  her  confessors  had  induced 
her  to  sanction.  "  Our  prayers  should  surely  attend  them, 
notwithstanding  our  policy  and  duty  have  demanded  their 
expulsion." 

"  Senora,"  answered  Fernando  de  Talavera,  "  they  are 
doubtless  serving  Mammon  among  the  Moors  and  Turks, 
as  they  served  him  in  Spain.  Let  not  your  Highness'  gra 
cious  mind  be  disturbed  on  account  of  these  descendants  of 
the  enemies  and  crucifiers  of  Christ,  who,  if  they  suffer  at 
all,  do  but  suffer  justly,  for  the  unutterable  sin  of  their  fore 
fathers.  Let  us  rather  inquire,  my  gracious  mistress,  of 
the  Senores  St.  Angel  and  Quintanilla  here,  what  hath  be 
come  of  their  favourite  Colon,  the  Genoese ;  and  when  they 
look  for  his  return,  dragging  the  Great  Khan,  a  captive,  by 
the  beard !" 

"  We  know  nought  of  him,  holy  prelate,"  put  in  de  St. 
Angel  briskly,  "  since  his  departure  from  the  Canaries." 

'*  The  Canaries  !"  interrupted  the  queen,  in  a  little  sur 
prise.  "  Hath  aught  been  received,  that  cometh  from  that 
quarter  ?" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  40*J 

"By  report  only,  Sefiora.  Letters  have  not  readied 
any  in  Spain,  that  I  can  learn ,  but  there  is  a  rumour  from 
Portugal,  that  the  admiral  touched  at  Gomera  and  the  Grand 
Canary,  where  it  would  seem  he  had  his  difficulties,  and 
whence  he  shortly  after  departed,  holding  a  western  course  ; 
since  which  time  no  tidings  have  been  received  from  either 
of  the  caravels." 

"  By  which  fact,  Lord  Archbishop,"  added  Quintanilla, 
"  we  can  perceive  that  trifles  are  not  likely  to  turn  the  ad 
venturers  back." 

"  I  '11  warrant  ye,  Sefiores,  that  a  Genoese  adventurei 
who  holdeth  their  Highnesses'  commission  as  an  admiral, 
will  be  in  no  unseemly  haste  to  get  rid  of  the  dignity  !" 
rejoined  the  prelate,  laughing  without  much  deference  to 
his  mistress's  concessions  in  Columbus's  favour.  "  One 
does  not  see  rank,  authority,  and  emolument,  carelessly 
thrown  aside,  when  they  may  be  retained  by  keeping  aloof 
from  the  power  whence  they  spring." 

"  Thou  art  unjust  to  the  Genoese,  holy  sir,  and  judgest 
him  harshly,"  observed  the  queen.  "  Truly,  I  did  not 
know  of  these  tidings  from  the  Canaries,  and  rejoice  to 
hear  that  Colon  hath  got  thus  far  in  safety.  Hath  not  the 
past  been  esteemed  a  most  boisterous  winter  among  mari 
ners,  Senor  de  St.  Angel  ?" 

"  So  much  so,  your  Highness,  that  I  have  heard  the  sea 
men  here,  in  Barcelona,  swear  that,  within  the  memory 
of  man,  there  hath  not  been  another  like  it.  Should  ill 
luck  wait  upon  Colon,  I  trust  this  circumstance  may  be  re 
membered  as  his  excuse  ;  though  I  doubt  if  he  be  very  near 
any  of  our  tempests  and  storms." 

"Not  he!"  exclaimed  the  bishop,  triumphantly.  "It 
will  be  seen  that  he  hath  been  safely  harboured  in  some 
river  of  Africa ;  and  we  shall  have  some  question  yet  to 
settle  about  him  with  Dom  Joao  of  Portugal." 

"  Here  is  the  king  to  give  us  his  opinion,"  interposed 
Isabella.  "It  is  long  since  I  have  heard  him  mention  the 
name  of  Colon.  Have  you  entirely  forgotten  our  Genoese 
admiral,  Don  Fernando?" 

"  Before  I  am  questioned  on  subjects  so  remote,"  return 
ed  the  king,  smiling,  "  let  me  inquire  into  matters  nearer 
35 


110  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

home.  How  long  is  it  that  your  Highness  holdeth  court, 
and  giveth  receptions,  past  the  hour  of  midnight  P 

"  Call  you  this  a  court,  Senor  ?  Here  are  but  our  own 
dear  children,  Beatriz  and  her  niece,  with  the  good  arch 
bishop,  and  those  two  faithful  servants  of  your  own." 

"  True  ;  but  you  overlook  the  ante-chambers,  and  thos« 
who  await  your  pleasure  without." 

"  None  can  await  without  at  this  unusual  hour ;  surely 
you  jest,  my  lord." 

"  Then  your  own  page,  Diego  de  Ballesteros,  hath  re 
ported  falsely.  Unwilling  to  disturb  your  privacy,  at  this 
unreasonable  hour,  he  hath  come  to  me,  saying  that  one 
of  strange  conduct  and  guise  is  in  the  palace,  insisting  on 
an  interview  with  the  queen,  let  it  be  late  or  early.  The 
accounts  of  this  man's  deportment  are  so  singular,  that  1 
have  ordered  him  to  be  admitted,  and  have  come  myself  to 
witness  the  interview.  The  page  telleth  me  that  he  swears 
all  hours  are  alike,  and  that  night  and  day  are  equally 
made  for  our  uses." 

"  Dearest  Don  Fernando,  there  may  be  treason  in  this !" 

"  Fear  not,  Isabella ;  assassins  are  not  so  bold,  and 
the  trusty  rapiers  of  these  gentlemen  will  prove  sufficient 
for  our  protection — Hist !  there  are  footsteps,  and  we  must 
appear  calm,  even  though  we  apprehend  a  tumult." 

The  door  opened,  and  Sancho  Mundo  stood  in  the  royal 
presence.  The  air  and  appearance  of  so  singular  a  being 
excited  both  astonishment  and  amusement,  and  every  eye 
was  fastened  on  him  in  wonder  ;  and  this  so  much  the  more, 
because  he  had  decked  his  person  with  sundry  ornaments 
from  the  imaginary  Indies,  among  which  were  one  or  two 
bands  of  gold.  Mercedes  alone  detected  his  profession  by 
his  air  and  attire,  and  she  rose  involuntarily,  clasping  her 
hands  with  energy,  and  suffering  a  slight  exclamation  to 
escape  her.  The  queen  perceived  this  little  pantomime, 
and  it  at  once  gave  a  right  direction  to  her  own  thoughts. 

"  I  am  Isabella,  the  queen,"  she  said,  rising,  without  any 
further  suspicion  of  danger  ;  "  and  thou  art  a  messenger 
from  Colon,  the  Genoese  ?" 

Sancho,  who  had  found  great  difficulty  in  gaining  admit 
tance,  now  that  his  end  was  obtained,  took  matters  with  his 
native  coolness.  His  first  act  was  to  fajl  on  his  knees,  a* 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  4H 

he  had  been  particularly  enjoined  by  Columbus  to  do.  He 
had  caught  the  habit  of  using  the  weed  of  Hayti  and  Cuba, 
from  the  natives,  and  was,  in  fact,  the  first  seaman  who 
ever  chewed  tobacco.  The  practice  had  already  got  to  be 
confirmed  with  him,  and  before  he  answered,  or  as  soon  as 
he  had  taken  this,  for  him,  novel  position,  he  saw  fit  to  fill 
a  corner  of  his  mouth  with  the  attractive  plant.  Then, 
giving  his  wardrobe  a  shake,  for  all  the  decent  clothes  he 
owned  were  on  his  person,  he  disposed  himself  to  make  a 
suitable  reply. 

"  Senora — Dona — your  Highness,"  he  answered,  "  any 
one  might  have  seen  that  at  a  glance.  I  am  Sancho  Mundo, 
of  the  Ship- Yard  Gate  ;  one  of  your  Highness'  Excellency's 
most  faithful  subjects  and  mariners,  being  a  native  and  re 
sident  of  Moguer." 

"  Thou  comest  from  Colon,  I  say  ?" 

"  Senora,  I  do ;  many  thanks  to  your  Royal  Grace  for 
the  information.  Don  Christopher  hath  sent  me  across  the 
country  from  Lisbon,  seeing  that  the  wily  Portuguese  would 
be  less  likely  to  distrust  a  simple  mariner,  like  myself,  than 
one  of  your  every-day,  booted  couriers.  'Tis  a  weary 
road,  and  there  is  not  a  mule  between  the  stables  of  Lisbon 
and  the  palace  of  Barcelona,  fit  for  a  Christian  to  bestride." 

"  Then,  hast  thou  letters?  One  like  thee  can  scarcely 
bear  aught  else." 

"Therein,  your  Grace's  Highness,  Dona  Reyna,  is 
mistaken  ;  though  I  am  far  from  bearing  half  the  number 
of  doblas  I  had  at  starting.  Mass !  the  innkeepers  took  me 
for  a  grandee,  by  the  manner  in  which  they  charged !" 

"  Give  the  man  gold,  good  Alonzo — he  is  one  that  liketh 
his  reward  ere  he  will  speak." 

Sancho  coolly  counted  the  pieces  that  were  put  into  his 
hand,  and,  finding  them  greatly  to  exceed  his  hopes,  he  had 
no  longer  any  motive  for  prevarication. 

"  Speak  fellow  !"  cried  the  king.  "  Thou  triflest,  where 
thou  owest  thy  duty  and  obedience." 

The  sharp,  quick  voice  of  Ferdinand  had  much  more  ef 
fect  on  the  ear  of  Sancho,  than  the  gentler  tones  of  Isabella, 
notwithstanding  even  his  rude  nature  had  been  impressed 
with  the  matronly  beauty  and  grace  of  the  latter. 


412  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

"  If  your  Highness  would  condescend  to  let  me  know 
what  you  wish  to  hear,  I  will  speak  in  all  gladness." 

"  Where  is  Colon  ?"  demanded  the  queen. 

"  At  Lisbon,  lately,  Senora,  though  1  think  now  at  Paloa 
de  Moguer,  or  in  that  neighbourhood." 

"Whither  hath  he  been?" 

"  To  Cipango,  and  the  territories  of  the  Great  Khan ; 
forty  days'  sail  from  Gomera,  and  a  country  of  marvellous 
beauty  and  excellence !" 

"  Thou  canst  not — darest  not  trifle  with  me  !  Can  we 
put  credit  in  thy  words  ?" 

"  If  your  Highness  only  knew  Sancho  Mundo,  you 
would  not  feel  this  doubt.  I  tell  you,  Senora,  and  all  these 
noble  cavaliers  and  dames,  that  Don  Christopher  Colon 
hath  discovered  the  other  side  of  the  earth,  which  we  now 
know  to  be  round,  by  having  circled  it ;  and  that  he  hath 
found  out  that  the  north  star  journeyeth  about  in  the 
heavens,  like  a  gossip  spreading  her  news ;  and  that  he 
hath  taken  possession  of  islands  as  large  as  Spain,  in  which 
gold  groweth,  and  where  the  holy  church  may  employ  itself 
in  making  Christians  to  the  end  of  time." 

"  The  letter — Sancho — give  me  the  letter.  Colon  would 
scarce  send  thee  as  a  verbal  expositor." 

The  fellow  now  undid  sundry  coverings  of  cloth  and 
paper,  until  he  reached  the  missive  of  Columbus,  when, 
without  rising  from  his  knees,  he  held  it  out  towards  the 
queen,  giving  her  the  trouble  to  move  forward  several  paces 
to  receive  it.  So  unexpected  and  astounding  were  the 
tidings,  and  so  novel  the  whole  scene,  that  no  one  interfered, 
leaving  Isabella  to  be  the  sole  actor,  as  she  was,  virtually,  the 
sole  speaker.  Sancho  having  thus  successfully  acquitted 
himself  of  a  task  that  had  been  expressly  confided  to  him 
on  account  of  his  character  and  appearance,  which,  it  was 
thought,  would  prove  his  security  from  arrest  and  plunder, 
settled  down  quietly  on  his  heels,  for  he  had  been  directed 
not  to  rise  until  ordered  ;  and  drawing  forth  the  gold  he  had 
received,  he  began  coolly  to  count  it  anew.  So  absorbing 
was  the  attention  all  gave  to  the  queen,  that  no  one  heeded 
the  mariner  or  his  movements.  Isabella  opened  the  letter, 
which  her  looks  devoured,  as  they  followed  line  after  line. 
As  was  usual  with  Columbus,  the  missive  was  long,  and  it 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  413 

required  many  minutes  to  read  it.  All  this  time  not  an  in 
dividual  moved,  every  eye  being  fastened  on  the  speaking 
countenance  of  the  queen.  There,  were  seen  the  height 
ening  flush  of  pleasure  and  surprise,  the  glow  ot  delight  and 
wonder,  and  the  look  of  holy  rapture.  When  the  letter 
was  ended,  Isabella  turned  her  eyes  upward  to  heaven, 
clasped  her  hands  with  energy,  and  exclaimed — 

"  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  to  Thee,  be  all  the  honour 
of  this  wonderful  discovery,  all  the  benefits  of  this  great 
proof  of  thy  goodness  and  power !" 

Thus  saying,  she  sunk  into  a  seat  and  dissolved  in  tears. 
Ferdinand  uttered  a  slight  ejaculation  at  the  words  of  his 
royal  consort ;  and  then  he  gently  took  the  letter  from  her 
unresisting  hand,  and  read  it  with  great  deliberation  and 
care.  It  was  not  often  that  the  wary  King  of  Aragon  was 
as  much  affected,  in  appearance  at  least,  as  on  this  occa 
sion.  The  expression  of  his  face,  at  first,  was  that  of  won 
der  ;  eagerness,  not  to  say  avidity,  followed ;  and  when  he 
had  finished  reading,  his  grave  countenance  was  unequivo 
cally  illuminated  by  exultation  and  joy. 

"  Good  Luis  de  St.  Angel !"  he  cried,  "  and  thou,  honest 
Alonzo  de  Quintanilla,  these  must  be  grateful  tidings  to 
you  both.  Even  thou,  holy  prelate,  wilt  rejoice  that  the 
church  is  like  to  have  acquisitions  so  glorious — albeit,  no 
favourer  of  the  Genoese  of  old.  Far  more  than  all  our 
expectations  are  realized,  for  Colon  hath  truly  discovered 
the  Indies  ;  increasing  our  dominions,  and  otherwise  ad 
vancing  our  authority  in  a  most  unheard-of  manner." 

It  was  unusual  to  see  Don  Ferdinand  so  excited,  and  he 
seemed  conscious  himself,  that  he  was  making  an  extraor 
dinary  exhibition,  for  he  immediately  advanced  to  the  queen, 
and  taking  her  hand,  he  led  her  towards  his  own  cabinet. 
In  passing  out  of  the  saloon,  he  indicated  to  the  three 
nobles  that  they  might  follow  to  the  council.  The  king 
made  this  sudden  movement  more  from  habitual  wariness, 
than  any  settled  object,  his  mind  being  disturbed  in  a  way 
to  which  he  was  unaccustomed,  while  caution  formed  a  part 
of  his  religion,  as  well  as  of  his  policy.  It  is  not  surprising, 
therefore,  that  when  he  and  the  party  he  invited  to  follow 
him  had  left  the  room,  there  remained  only  the  princesses, 
-he  Marchioness  of  Moya,  and  Mercedes.  No  sooner  had 
35* 


414  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  king  and  queen  disappeared,  than  the  royal  children 
retired  to  their  OWH  apartments,  leaving  our  heroine,  her 
guardian,  and  Sancho,  the  sole  occupants  of  the  saloon. 
The  latter  still  remained  on  his  knees,  scarce  heeding  what 
had  passed,  so  intensely  was  he  occupied  with  his  own  situa 
tion,  and  his  own  particular  sources  of  satisfaction. 

"  Thou  canst  rise,  friend,"  observed  Dona  Beatriz — 
"  their  Highnesses  are  no  longer  present." 

At  this  intelligence  Sancho  quitted  his  humble  posture, 
brushed  his  knees  with  some  care,  and  looked  about  him 
with  the  composure  that  he  was  wont  to  exhibit  in  studying 
the  heavens  at  sea. 

"  Thou  wert  of  Colon's  company,  friend,  by  the  manner 
in  which  thou  hast  spoken,  and  the  circumstance  that  the 
admiral  hath  employed  thee  as  his  courier  ?" 

"  You  may  well  believe  that,  Sefiora,  your  Excellency, 
for  most  of  my  time  was  passed  at  the  helm,  which  was 
within  three  fathoms  of  the  very  spot  that  Don  Christopher 
and  the  Sefior  de  Mufios  loved  so  well,  that  they  never  quit 
ted  it,  except  to  sleep,  and  not  always  then." 

"  Hadst  thou  a  Senor  de  Mufios  of  thy  party  ?"  resumed 
the  Marchioness,  making  a  sign  to  her  ward  to  control  her 
feelings. 

"  That  had  we  Sefiora,  and  a  Senor  Gutierrez^  and  a 
certain  Don  Somebody  Else,  and  they  all  three  did  not  oc 
cupy  more  room  than  one  common  man.  Prithee,  honour 
able  and  agreeable  Sefiora,  is  there  one  Dona  Beatriz  de 
Cabrera,  the  Marchioness  of  Moya,  a  lady  of  the  illustrious 
house  of  Bobadilla,  anywhere  about  the  court  of  our  gra 
cious  queen  ?" 

"  I  am  she,  and  thou  hast  a  message  for  me,  from  this 
very  Senor  de  Mufios,  of  whom  thou  hast  spoken." 

"  I  no  longer  wonder  that  there  are  great  lords  with  their 
beautiful  ladies,  and  poor  sailors  with  wives,  that  no  one 
envies !  Scarce  can  I  open  my  mouth,  but  it  is  known 
what  I  wish  to  say,  which  is  knowledge  to  make  one  party 
great,  and  the  other  party  little  !  Mass  ! — Don  Christopher, 
himself,  will  need  all  his  wit,  if  he  journeyeth  as  far  as  Bar 
celona  !" 

"  Tell  us  of  this  Pedro  de  Mufios ;  for  thy  message  is  to 
me." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  415 

"Then,  Senora,  I  will  tell  you  of  your  own  brave  ne 
phew,  the  Conde  de  Llera,  who  goeth  by  two  other  names 
in  the  caravel,  one  of  which  is  supposed  to  be  a  sham,  while 
the  other  is  still  the  greatest  deception  of  the  two." 

"  Is  it  then  known  who  my  nephew  really  is  ?  Are 
many  persons  acquainted  with  his  secret ?" 

"  Certainly,  Senora  ;  it  is  known,  firstly,  to  himself;  se 
condly,  to  Don  Christopher;  thirdly,  to  me;  fourthly,  to 
Master  Alonzo  Pinzon,  if  he  be  still  in  the  flesh,  as  most 
prohably  he  is  not.  Then  it  is  known  to  your  ladyship  ; 
and  this  beautiful  Senorita  must  have  some  suspicions  of 
the  matter." 

"  Enough — I  see  the  secret  is  not  public ;  though,  how 
one  of  thy  class  came  to  be  of  it,  I  cannot  explain.  Tell 
me  of  my  nephew: — did  he,  too,  write?  if  so,  let  me,  at 
once,  peruse  his  letter." 

"  Seilora,  my  departure  took  Don  Luis  by  surprise,  and 
he  had  no  time  to  write.  The  admiral  had  given  the  princes 
and  princesses,  that  we  brought  from  Espanola,  in  charge 
to  the  Conde,  and  he  had  too  much  to  do  to  be  scribbling 
letters,  else  would  he  have  written  sheets  to  an  aunt  as 
respectable  as  yourself." 

"  Princes  and  princesses  ! — What  mean  you,  friend,  by 
such  high-sounding  terms?" 

"  Only  that  we  have  brought  several  of  these  great  per 
sonages  to  Spain,  to  pay  their  respects  to  their  Highnesses. 
We  deal  with  none  of  the  common  fry,  Senora,  but  with 
the  loftiest  princes,  and  the  most  beautiful  princesses  of  the 
east." 

"  And  dost  thou  really  mean  that  persons  of  this  high 
rank  have  returned  with  the  admiral  ?" 

"  Out  of  all  question,  lady,  and  one  of  a  beauty  so  rare, 
that  the  fairest  dames  of  Castile  need  look  to  it,  if  they 
wish  not  to  be  outdone.  She,  in  particular,  is  Don  Luis's 
friend  and  favourite." 

"Of  whom  speakest  thou?"  demanded  Dona  Beatriz,  in 
the  lofty  manner  in  which  she  was  wont  to  insist  on  being 
answered  directly.  "  What  is  the  name  of  this  princess, 
and  whence  doth  she  come?" 

"  Her  name,  your  excellency,  is  Dona  Ozema  de  Hayti, 
of  a  part  of  which  country  her  brother,  Don  Mattinao,  is 


416  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

cacique  or  king,  Senora  Ozema  being  the  heiress,  or  next 
of  kin.  Don  Luis  and  your  humble  servant  paid  that  court 
a  visit — " 

"  Thy  tale  is  most  improbable,  fellow  —  art  thou  one 
whom  Don  Luis  would  be  likely  to  select  as  a  companion 
on  such  an  occasion  ?" 

"  Look  at  it  as  you  will,  Senora,  it  is  as  true  as  that  this 
is  the  court  of  Don  Ferdinand  and  Dona  Isabella.  You 
must  know,  illustrious  Marchioness,  that  the  young  count 
is  a  little  given  to  roving  about  among  us  sailors,  and  on 
one  occasion,  a  certain  Sancho  Mundo,  of  Moguer,  hap 
pened  to  be  of  the  same  voyage ;  and  thus  we  became 
known  to  each  other.  I  kept  the  noble's  secret,  and  he  got 
to  be  Sancho's  friend.  When  Don  Luis  went  to  pay  a  visit 
to  Don  Mattinao,  the  cacique,  which  word  meaneth  *  your 
Highness,'  in  the  eastern  tongue,  Sancho  must  go  with  him, 
and  Sancho  went.  When  King  Caonabo  came  down  from 
the  mountains  to  carry  off  the  princess  Dona  Ozema,  for  a 
wife,  and  the  princess  was  unwilling  to  go,  why  there 
remained  nothing  to  be  done,  but  for  the  Conde  de  Llera 
and  his  friend  Sancho  of  the  Ship-Yard  Gate,  to  fight  the 
whole  army  in  her  defence,  which  we  did,  gaining  as  great 
a  victory  as  Don  Fernando,  our  sovereign  master,  ever 
gained  over  the  Moors." 

"  Carrying  off  the  princess  yourselves,  as  would  seem  ! 
Friend  Sancho,  of  the  Ship-Yard  Gate,  if  that  be  thy  appel 
lation,  this  tale  of  thine  is  ingenious,  but  it  lacketh  proba 
bility.  Were  I  to  deal  justly  by  thee,  honest  Sancho,  it 
would  be  to  order  thee  the  stripes  thou  meritest  so  well,  as 
a  reward  for  this  trifling." 

"  The  man  speaketh  as  he  hath  been  taught,"  observed 
Mercedes,  in  a  low,  unsteady  voice ;  "  I  fear,  Senora,  there 
is  too  much  truth  in  his  tale !" 

"  You  need  fear  nothing,  beautiful  Senorita,"  put  in  San 
cho,  altogether  unmoved  at  the  menace  implied  by  the  words 
of  the  Marchioness,  "  since  the  battle  hath  been  fought,  the 
victory  hath  been  gained,  and  both  the  heroes  escaped  un 
injured.  This  illustrious  Senora,  to  whom  I  can  forgive 
any  thing,  as  the  aunt  of  the  best  friend  I  have  on  earth- 
any  thing  spoken  I  mean — will  remember  that  the  Haytiana 
know  nothing  of  arquebuses,  by  means  of  which  we  de- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  417 

feated  Caonabo,  and  also,  that  many  is  the  column  of  Moors 
that  Don  Luis  hath  broken  singly,  and  by  means  of  his 
own  good  lance." 

"  Ay,  fellow,"  answered  Dona  Beatriz,  "  but  that  hath 
been  in  the  saddle,  behind  plaits  of  steel,  and  with  a  wea 
pon  that  hath  overturned  even  Alonzo  de  Ojedo  !" 

"  Hast  thou  truly  brought  away  with  thee  the  princess 
thou  hast  named  ?"  asked  Mercedes  earnestly. 

"  I  swear  to  it,  Sefiora  and  Seiiorita,  illustrious  ladies 
both,  by  the  holy  mass,  and  all  the  saints  in  the  calendar ! 
A  princess,  moreover,  surpassing  in  beauty  the  daughters 
of  our  own  blessed  queen,  if  the  fair  ladies  who  passed  out 
of  this  room,  even  now,  are  they,  as  I  suspect." 

"  Out  upon  thee,  knave  !"  cried  the  indignant  Beatriz — 
"  I  will  no  more  of  this,  and  marvel  that  my  nephew  should 
have  employed  one  of  so  loose  a  tongue,  on  any  of  his 
errands.  Go  to,  and  learn  discretion  ere  the  morning,  or 
the  favour  of  even  thy  admiral  will  not  save  thy  bones. 
Mercedes,  we  will  seek  our  rest — the  hour  is  late." 

Sancho  was  immediately  left  alone,  and  in  a  minute  a 
page  appeared  to  show  him  to  the  place  where  he  was  to 
pass  the  night.  The  old  mariner  had  grumbled  a  little  to 
himself,  concerning  the  spirit  of  Don  Luis's  aunt,  counted 
anew  his  gold,  and  was  about  to  take  possession  of  his 
pallet,  when  the  same  page  re-appeared  to  summon  him  to 
another  interview.  Sancho,  who  knew  little  distinction 
between  night  and  day,  made  no  objections,  especially  when 
he  was  told  that  his  presence  was  required  by  the  lovely 
Senorita,  whose  gentle,  tremulous  voice  had  so  much  in 
terested  him,  in  the  late  interview.  Mercedes  received  her 
rude  guest,  in  a  small  saloon  of  her  own,  after  having 
parted  from  her  guardian  for  the  night.  As  he  entered, 
her  face  was  flushed,  her  eye  bright,  and  her  whole 
demeanour,  to  one  more  expert  in  detecting  female  emotions, 
would  have  betrayed  intense  anxiety. 

"  Thou  hast  had  a  long  and  weary  journey,  Sancho," 
said  our  heroine,  when  alone  with  the  seaman,  "  and,  I 
pray  thee  accept  this  gold,  as  a  small  proof  of  the  inter 
est  with  which  I  have  heard  the  great  tidings  of  which  thou 
hast  been  the  bearer." 

**  Senorita !"  exclaimed  Sancho,  affecting  indifference  to 


418  MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

the  dobias  that  fell  into  his  hand — "  I  hope  you  do  not 
ihink  me  mercenary?  the  honour  of  being  the  messenger, 
and  of  being  admitted  to  converse  with  such  illustrious 
ladies,  more  than  pays  me  for  any  thing  I  could  do." 

"  Still,  thou  may'st  need  money  for  thy  wants,  and  wilt 
not  refuse  that  which  a  lady  offereth." 

"  On  that  ground,  I  would  accept  it,  Dona  Senorita,  even 
were  it  twice  as  much." 

So  saying,  Sancho  placed  the  money,  with  a  suitable  re 
signation,  by  the  side  of  that  which  he  had  previously 
received  by  order  of  the  queen.  Mercedes  now  found  her 
self  in  the  situation  that  they  who  task  their  powers  too 
much,  are  often  fated  to  endure ;  in  other  words,  now  she 
had  at  command  the  means  of  satisfying  her  own  doubts, 
she  hesitated  about  using  them. 

"  Sancho,"  Mercedes  at  length  commenced,  "  thou  hast 
been  with  the  Senor  Colon,  throughout  this  great  and  extra 
ordinary  voyage,  and  must  know  much  that  it  will  be  curi 
ous  for  us,  who  have  lived  quietly  in  Spain,  to  hear.  Is  all 
thou  hast  said  about  the  princes  and  princesses  true  ?" 

"  As  true,  Senorita,  as  such  things  need  be  for  a  history. 
Mass  ! — Any  one  who  hath  been  in  a  battle,  or  seen  any 
other  great  adventure,  and  then  cometh  to  hear  it  read  of, 
afterwards,  will  soon  learn  to  understand  the  difference 
between  the  thing  itself,  and  the  history  that  may  be  given 
of  it.  Now,  I  was — " 

"  Never  mind  thy  other  adventures,  good  Sancho ;  tell 
me  only  of  this.  Are  there  really  a  Prince  Mattinao,  and  a 
Princess  Ozema  his  sister,  and  have  both  accompanied  the 
admiral  to  Spain  ?" 

"  I  said  not  that,  beautiful  Senorita,  for  Don  Mattinao 
remained  behind  to  rule  his  people.  It  is  only  his  hand 
some  sister,  who  hath  followed  Don  Christopher  and  Don 
Luis  to  Palos." 

"  Followed ! — Do  the  admiral  and  the  Conde  de  Llera 
possess  such  influence  over  royal  ladies,  as  to  induce  them 
to  abandon  their  native  country  and  to  follow  them  to  a 
foreign  land !" 

"  Ay,  Senorita,  that,  might  seem  out  of  rule  in  Castile,  01 
Portugal,  or  even  in  France.  But  Hayti  is  not  yet  a  Chris 
tian  country,  arid  a  princess  there  may  not  be  more  than 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  419 

a  noble  lady  in  Castile,  and,  in  the  way  of  wardrobe,  per 
haps  not  even  as  much.  Still,  a  princess  is  a  princess, 
and  a  handsome  princess  is  a  handsome  princess.  Dona 
Ozema,  here,  is  a  wonderful  creature,  and  beginneth  already 
to  prattle  your  pure  Castilian,  an'  she  had  been  brought  up 
at  Toledo,  or  Burgos.  But  Don  Luis  is  a  most  encourag 
ing  master,  and  no  doubt  made  great  head-way,  during  the 
time  he  was  living  in  her  palace,  as  it  might  be  alone  with 
her,  before  that  incarnate  devil  Don  Caonabo  came  down 
with  his  followers  to  seize  the  lady." 

"  Is  this  lady  a  Christian  princess,  Sancho?" 

"  Heaven  bless  your  own  pure  soul,  Dona  Senorita,  sho 
can  boast  of  but  little  in  that  way ;  still,  she  hath  made 
something  of  a  beginning,  as  I  see  she  now  weareth  a  cross 
— one  small  in  size,  it  is  true,  but  precious  in  material,  as, 
indeed,  it  ought  to  be,  seeing  that  it  is  a  present  from  one 
as  noble  and  rich  as  the  Count  of  Llera." 

"  A  cross,  say'st  thou,  Sancho !"  interrupted  Mercedes, 
almost  gasping  for  breath,  yet  so  far  subduing  her  feelings 
as  to  prevent  the  old  seaman  from  detecting  them  ;  "  hath 
Don  Luis  succeeded  in  inducing  her  to  accept  of  a  cross?" 

"  That  hath  he,  Senorita — one  of  precious  stones,  that  he 
once  wore  at  his  own  neck." 

"  Know'st  thou  the  stones?  —  was  it  of  turquoise,  embel 
lished  with  the  finest  gold?" 

"  For  the  gold  I  can  answer,  lady,  though  my  learning 
hath  never  reached  as  high  as  the  precious  stones.  The 
heavens  of  Hayti,  however,  are  not  bluer  than  the  stones  of 
that  cross.  Dona  Ozema  calls  it  '  Mercedes,'  by  which  I 
understand  that  she  looketh  for  the  mercies  of  the  crucifixion 
to  help  her  benighted  soul." 

"  Is  this  cross,  then,  held  so  common,  that  it  hath  gotten 
to  be  the  subject  of  discourse  even  for  men  of  thy  class  ?" 

"  Hearkee,  Senorita ;  a  man  like  me  is  more  valued,  on 
board  a  caravel,  in  a  tossing  sea,  than  he  is  like  to  be  here, 
in  Barcelona,  on  solid  ground.  We  went  to  Cipango  to 
set  up  crosses,  and  to  make  Christians  ;  so  that  all  hath 
been  in  character.  As  for  the  lady  Ozema,  she  taketh 
more  notice  of  me  than  of  another,  as  I  was  in  the  battle 
that  rescued  her  from  Caonabo,  and  so  she  showed  me  the 
cross  the  day  we  anchored  in  the  Tagus,  or  just  betbre  the 


420  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

admiral  ordered  me  to  bring  his  letter  to  her  Highness. 
Then  it  was  that  she  kissed  the  cross,  and  held  it  to  her 
heart,  and  said  it  was  '  Mercedes.'  " 

"  This  is  most  strange,  Sancho  !  Hath  this  princess  at 
tendants,  befitting  her  rank  and  dignity  1" 

"  You  forget,  Senorita.  that  the  Nina  is  but  a  small  craft, 
as  her  name  signifieth,  and  there  would  be  no  room  for  a 
large  train  of  lords  and  ladies.  Don  Christopher  and  Don 
Luis  are  honourable  enough  to  attend  on  any  princess  ;  and 
for  the  rest,  the  Dona  Ozema  must  wait  until  our  gracious 
queen  can  command  her  a  retinue  befitting  her  birth.  Be 
sides,  my  lady,  these  Haytian  dames  are  simpler  than  our 
Spanish  nobles,  half  of  them  thinking  clothes  of  no  great 
use,  in  that  mild  climate." 

Mercedes  looked  offended,  and  incredulous  ;  but  her 
curiosity  and  interest  were  too  active,  to  permit  her  to  send 
the  man  away  without  further  question. 

"  And  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  was  ever  with  the  admriral?" 
she  said,  "  ever  ready  to  support  him,  and  foremost  in  all 
hazards  ?" 

"  Senorita,  you  describe  the  count  as  faithfully  as  if  you 
had  been  present  from  first  to  last.  Had  you  but  seen  him 
dealing  out  his  blows  upon  Caonabo's  followers,  and  the 
manner  in  which  he  kept  them  all  at  bay,  with  the  Dona 
Ozema  near  him,  behind  the  rocks,  it  would  have  drawn 
tears  of  admiration  from  your  own  lovely  eyes." 

"  The  Dona  Ozema  near  him  —  behind  rocks  —  and  as 
sailants  held  at  bay !" 

"  Si,  Senora ;  you  repeat  it  all  like  a  book.  It  was  much 
as  you  say,  though  the  Lady  Ozema  did  not  content  herself 
with  being  behind  the  rocks,  for,  when  the  arrows  came 
thickest,  she  rushed  before  the  count,  compelling  the  enemy 
to  withhold,  lest  they  should  slay  the  very  prize  they  were 
battling  for ;  thereby  saving  the  life  of  her  knight." 

"  Saving  his  life !  —  the  life  of  Luis  —  of  Don  Luis  do 
Bobadilla  —  an  Indian  princess!" 

"  It  is  just  as  you  say,  and  a  most  noble  girl  she  is,  ask 
ing  pardon  for  speaking  so  light  of  one  of  her  high  rank. 
Time  and  again,  since  that  day,  hath  the  young  count  told 
me,  that  the  arrows  came  in  such  clouds,  that  his  honour 
might  have  been  tarnished  by  a  retreat,  or  his  life  been  lost, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  421 

ut  for  the  timely  resolution  of  the  Dona  Ozema.  She  is  a 
rare  creature,  Senorita,  and  you  will  love  her  as  a  sister, 
when  you  come  to  see  and  know  her." 

"  Sancho,"  said  our  heroine,  blushing  like  tne  dawn, 
"  thou  said'st  that  the  Conde  de  Llera  bade  thee  speak  of 
him  to  his  aunt ;  did  he  mention  no  one  else  ?" 

"  No  one,  Senorita." 

"Art  certain,  Sancho]  Bethink  thee  well — did  he  men 
tion  no  other  name  to  thee  ?" 

"  Not  that  I  can  swear.  It  is  true,  that  either  he,  or  old 
Diego,  the  helmsman,  spoke  of  one  Clara  that  keepeth  an 
hosteria,  here  in  Barcelona,  as  a  place  famous  for  its  wine  ; 
but  I  think  it  more  likely  to  have  been  Diego  than  the 
count,  as  one  thinketh  much  of  these  matters,  and  the  other 
would  not  be  apt  to  know  aught  of  Clara." 

"  Thou  canst  retire,  Sancho,"  said  Mercedes,  in  a  faint 
voice.  "  We  will  say  more  to  thee  in  the  morning." 

Sancho  was  not  sorry  to  be  dismissed,  and  he  gladly  re 
turned  to  his  pallet,  little  dreaming  of  the  mischief  he  had 
done  by  the  mixture  of  truth  and  exaggeration  that  he  had 
been  recounting. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

**  Mac-Homer,  too,  in  prose  or  song, 
By  the  state-papers  of  Buffon, 

To  deep  researches  led ; 
A  Gallo-Celtic  scheme  may  botch, 
To  prove  the  Ourang-  race  were  Scotch, 
Who  from  the  Highlands  fled." 

LORD  JOHN  TOWNSHEND. 

THE  intelligence  of  the  return  of  Columbus,  and  of  the 
important  discoveries  he  had  made,  spread  through  Europe 
like  wild-fire.  It  soon  got  to  be,  in  the  general  estimation, 
the  great  event  of  the  age.  For  several  years  afterwards, 
or  until  the  discovery  of  the  Pacific  by  Balboa,  it  was  be- 
36 


422  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

lieved  that  the  Indies  had  been  reached  by  the  western 
passage;  and  of  course  the  problem  of  the  earth's  spherical 
shape  was  held  to  be  solved  by  actual  experiment.  The 
transactions  of  the  voyage,  the  wonders  seen,  the  fertility 
of  the  soil  of  the  east,  the  softness  of  its  climate,  its  trea 
sures  in  gold,  spices,  and  pearls,  and  the  curious  things  that 
the  admiral  had  brought  as  proofs  of  his  success,  were  all 
the  themes  of  the  hour.  Men  never  wearied  in  discussing 
the  subjects.  For  many  centuries  had  the  Spaniards  been 
endeavouring  to  expel  the  Moors  from  the  Peninsula  ;  but, 
as  that  much-desired  event  had  been  the  result  of  time  and 
a  protracted  struggle,  even  its  complete  success  seemed 
tame  and  insignificant  compared  with  the  sudden  brilliancy 
that  shone  around  the  western  discoveries.  In  a  word,  the 
pious  rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  spreading  the  gospel ;  the  ava 
ricious  feasted  their  imaginations  on  untold  hoards  of  gold  ; 
the  politic  calculated  the  increase  of  the  power  of  Spain  ; 
the  scientific  exulted  in  the  triumph  of  mind  over  prejudice 
and  ignorance,  while  they  hoped  for  still  greater  accessions 
of  knowledge ;  and  the  enemies  of  Spain  wondered,  and 
deferred,  even  while  they  envied. 

The  first  few  days  that  succeeded  the  arrival  of  Colum- 
bus's  courier,  were  days  of  delight  and  curiosity.  Answers 
were  sent  soliciting  his  early  presence,  high  honours  were 
proffered  to  him,  and  his  name  filled  all  mouths,  as  his 
glory  was  in  the  heart  of  every  true  Spaniard.  Orders 
were  issued  to  make  the  necessary  outfits  for  a  new  voyage, 
and  little  was  talked  of  but  the  discovery  and  its  conse 
quences.  In  this  manner  passed  a  month,  when  the 
admiral  arrived  at  Barcelona,  attended  by  most  of  the 
Indians  he  had  brought  with  him  from  the  islands.  His 
honours  were  of  the  noblest  kind,  the  sovereigns  receiving 
him  on  a  throne  placed  in  a  public  hall,  rising  at  his  ap 
proach,  and  insisting  on  his  being  seated  himself,  a  dis 
tinction  of  the  highest  nature,  and  usually  granted  only  to 
princes  of  royal  blood.  Here  the  admiral  related  the  his 
tory  of  his  voyage,  exhibited  the  curiosities  he  had  brought 
with  him,  and  dwelt  on  his  hopes  of  future  benefits.  When 
the  tale  was  told,  all  present  knelt,  and  Te  Deum  was 
chanted  by  the  usual  choir  of  the  court ;  even  Ferdinand's 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  423 

stern  nature  dissolving  into  tears  of  grateful  joy,  at  this  un 
looked-for  and  magnificent  behest  of  heaven. 

For  a  long  time,  Columbus  was  the  mark  of  every  eye  ; 
nor  did  his  honours  and  consideration  cease,  until  he  left 
Spain,  in  command  of  the  second  expedition  to  the  east,  as 
the  voyage  was  then  termed. 

A  few  days  previously  to  the  arrival  of  the  admiral  at 
court,  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  suddenly  appeared  in  Barce 
lona.  On  ordinary  occasions,  the  movements  of  one  of 
the  rank  and  peculiarities  of  the  young  grandee  would  have 
afforded  a  topic  for  the  courtiers,  that  would  not  soon  have 
been  exhausted,  but  the  all-engrossing  theme  of  the  great 
voyage  afforded  him  a  screen.  His  presence,  however, 
could  not  escape  notice;  and  it  was  whispered,  with  the 
usual  smiles  and  shrugs,  that  he  had  entered  the  port  in  a 
caravel,  coming  from  the  Levant ;  and  it  was  one  of  the 
received  pleasantries  of  the  hour  to  say,  in  an  under  tone, 
that  the  young  Conde  de  Llera  had  also  made  the  eastern 
voyage.  All  this  gave  our  hero  little  concern,  and  he  was 
soon  pursuing  his  oidinary  life,  when  near  the  persons  of 
the  sovereigns.  The  day  that  Columbus  was  received  in 
state,  he  was  present  in  the  hall,  attired  in  the  richest  vest 
ments,  and  no  noble  of  Spain  did  more  credit  to  his  lineage, 
or  his  condition,  than  Don  Luis,  by  his  mien  and  carriage. 
It  was  remarked  that  Isabella  smiled  on  him,  during  the 
pageant ;  but  the  head  of  more  than  one  wary  observer 
was  shaken,  as  its  owner  remarked  how  grave  the  queen's 
favourite  appeared,  for  an  occasion  so  joyous  ;  a  fact  that 
was  attributed  to  the  unworthy  pursuits  of  her  truant 
nephew.  No  one,  that  day,  gazed  at  Luis  with  more  de 
light  than  Sar.cho,  who  lingered  at  Barcelona,  to  share  in 
the  honours  of  his  chief,  and  who,  in  virtue  of  his  services, 
was  permitted  to  take  his  place  among  the  courtiers  them 
selves.  Not  a  little  admiration  was  excited  by  the  mannei 
in  which  he  used  the  novel  weed,  called  tobacco  ;  and  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  of  his  neighbours  were  nauseated  by  their 
efforts  to  emulate  his  indulgence  and  satisfaction.  One  of 
his  exploits  was  of  a  character  so  unusual,  and  so  well  il 
lustrates  the  feeling  of  the  hour,  that  it  may  be  well  to  re 
cord  it  in  detail. 

The  reception  was  over,  and  Sancho  was  quitting  the 


424  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

hall  with  the  rest  of  the  crowd,  when  he  was  accosted  by 
a  man  apparently  of  forty,  well  attired,  and  of  agreeable 
manner,  who  desired  the  honour  of  his  presence  at  a  slight 
entertainment,  of  which  several  had  been  prepared  for  the 
admiral  and  his  friends.  Sancho,  nothing  loth,  the  delights 
of  distinction  being  yet  so  novel,  cheerfully  complied,  and 
he  was  quickly  led  to  a  room  of  the  palace,  where  he  found 
a  party  of  some  twenty  young  nobles  assembled  to  do  him 
honour  ;  for  happy  was  he  that  day  in  Barcelona  who  could 
get  even  one  of  the  meanest  of  Columbus's  followers  to  ac 
cept  of  his  homage.  No  sooner  did  the  two  enter  the  room, 
than  the  young  Castilian  lords  crowded  around  them,  cover 
ing  Sancho  with  protestations  of  admiration,  and  addressing 
eager  questions,  a  dozen  at -a  time,  to  his  companion,  whom 
they  styled  "  Senor  Pedro"  —  "Senor  Martir,"  and  occa 
sionally  "  Senor  Pedro  Martir."  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add,  that  this  person  was  the  historian  who  has  become 
known  to  us  of  these  latter  days  as  "  Peter  Martyr,"  an 
Italian,  to  whose  care  and  instruction  Isabella  had  entru-sted 
most  of  the  young  nobles  of  the  court.  The  present  inter 
view  had  been  got  up  to  indulge  the  natural  curiosity  of  the 
youthful'  lords,  and  Sancho  had  been  chosen  for  the  occa 
sion,  on  the  principle  that  when  the  best  is  denied  us, 
we  must  be  content  to  accept  information  of  an  inferior 
quality. 

"  Congratulate  me,  Senores,"  cried  Peter  Martyr,  as  soon 
as  he  could  find  an  opportunity  to  speak,  "  since  my  suc 
cess  surpasseth  our  own  hopes.  As  for  the  Liguinan,  him 
self,  and  all  of  high  condition  about  him,  they  are  in  the 
hands  of  the  most  illustrious  of  Spain,  for  this  day  ;  but 
here  is  a  most  worthy  pilot,  no  doubt  the  second  in  author 
ity  on  board  one  of  the  caravels,  who  consenteth  to  do  us 
honour,  and  to  partake  of  our  homely  cheer.  I  drew  him 
from  a  crowd  of  applicants,  and  have  not  yet  had  an  oppor 
tunity  to  enquire  his  name,  which  he  is  about  to  give  us  of 
his  own  accord." 

Sancho  never  wanted  for  self-possession,  and  had  far  too 
much  mother-wit  to  be  either  clownish  or  offensively  vul 
gar,  though  the  reader  is  not  now  to  be  told  that  he  was 
neither  qualified  to  be  an  academician,  nor  had  the  most 
profound  notions  of  natural  philosophy.  He  assumed  an 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  425 

air  of  suitable  dignity,  therefore,  and,  somewhat  practised 
in  his  new  vocation  by  the  thousand  interrogatories  he  had 
answered  in  the  last  month,  he  disposed  himself  to  do  credit 
to  the  information  of  a  man  who  had  visited  the  Indies. 

"  I  am  called  Sancho  Mundo,  Senores,  at  your  service, — 
sometimes  Sancho  of  the  Ship-Yard-Gate,  though  I  would 
prefer  now  to  be  called  Sancho  of  the  Indies,  unless,  indeed, 
it  should  suit  his  Excellency  Don  Christopher  to  take  that 
appellation — his  claim  being  somewhat  better  than  mine." 

Here  several  protested  that  his  claims  were  of  the  highest 
order ;  and  then  followed  sundry  introductions  to  Sancho 
of  the  Ship-Yard-Gate,  of  several  young  men  of  the  first 
families  in  Castile ;  for,  though  the  Spaniards  have  not  the 
same  mania  for  this  species  of  politeness  as  the  Americans, 
the  occasion  was  one  in  which  native  feeling  got  the 
ascendency  of  conventional  reserve.  After  this  ceremony, 
and  the  Mendozas,  Guzmans,  Cerdas,  and  Toledos,  present, 
felt  honoured  in  knowing  this  humble  seaman,  the  whole 
party  repaired  to  the  banqueting-room,  where  a  table  was 
spread  that  did  credit  to  the  cooks  of  Barcelona.  During 
the  repast,  although  the  curiosity  of  the  young  men  made 
some  inroads  on  their  breeding  in  this  particular,  no  ques 
tion  could  induce  Sancho  to  break  in  upon  the  duty  of  the 
moment,  for  which  he  entertained  a  sort  of  religious  vene 
ration.  Once,  when  pushed  a  little  more  closely  than  com 
mon,  he  laid  down  his  knife  and  fork,  and  made  the  follow 
ing  solemn  reply : 

"  Senores,"  he  said,  "  I  look  upon  food  as  a  gift  from 
God  to  man,  and  hold  it  to  be  irreverent  to  converse  much, 
when  the  bounties  of  the  table  invite  us  to  do  homage  to 
this  great  dispenser.  Don  Christopher  is  of  this  way  of 
thinking,  I  know,  and  all  his  followers  imitate  their  beloved 
and  venerated  chief.  As  soon  as  I  am  ready  to  converse, 
Senores  Don  Hidalgos,  you  shall  be  told  of  it,  and  then 
God  help  the  ignorant  and  silly  !" 

After  this  admonition,  there  remained  nothing  to  be  said 
until  Sancho's  appetite  was  satisfied,  when  he  drew  a  little 
back  from  the  table,  and  announced  his  readiness  to  proceed. 

"  I  profess  to  very  little  learning,  Senor  Pedro  Martir," 
he  said  ;  "  but  what  I  have  seen  I  have  seen,  and  that  which 
is  known,  is  as  well  known  by  a  mariner,  as  by  a  doctor 
36* 


426  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

of  Salamanca.  Ask  your  questions,  then,  o'  heaven's  sake; 
and  expect  such  answers  as  a  poor  but  honest  man  can 
give." 

The  learned  Peter  Martyr  was  fain  to  make  the  best  of 
his  subject;  for  at  that  moment,  any  information  that  came 
from  what  might  be  termed  first  hands,  was  greedily  re 
ceived  ;  he  proceeded,  therefore,  to  his  inquiries  as  simply 
and  as  directly  as  he  had  been  invited  to  do  so. 

"  Well,  Senor,"  commenced  the  man  of  learning,  u  we 
are  willing  to  obtain  knowledge  on  any  terms.  Prithee, 
tell  us,  at  once,  which  of  all  the  wonderful  things  that  you 
witnessed  on  this  voyage,  hath  made  the  deepest  impression 
on  your  mind,  and  striketh  you  as  the  most  remarkable!" 

"  I  know  nothing  to  compare  with  the  whiffling  of  the 
north  star,"  said  Sancho,  promptly.  "  That  star  hath 
always  been  esteemed  among  us  seamen,  as  being  im 
movable  as  the  cathedral  o(  Seville ;  but,  in  this  voyage,  if. 
hath  been  seen  to  change  its  place,  with  the  inconstancy  of 
the  winds." 

"  That  is  indeed  miraculous !"  exclaimed  Peter  Martyr, 
who  scarcely  knew  how  to  take  the  intelligence  ;  "  perhaps 
there  is  some  mistake,  Master  Sancho,  and  you  are  not  ac 
customed  to  sidereal  investigations." 

"  Ask  Don  Christopher  ;  when  the  phernomerthon,  as 
the  admiral  called  it,  was  first  observed,  we  talked  the  mat 
ter  over  together,  and  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  nothing 
in  this  world  was  as  permanent  as  it  seemed  to  be.  Depend 
on  it,  Senor  Don  Pedro,  the  north  star  flits  about  like  a 
weathercock." 

"  1  shall  inquire  into  this  of  the  illustrious  admiral  ;  but, 
next  to  this  star,  Master  Sancho,  what  deem  you  most  wor 
thy  of  observation  ?  I  speak  now  of  ordinary  things,  leav 
ing  science  to  future  discussion." 

This  was  too  grave  a  question  to  be  lightly  answered, 
and  while  Sancho  was  cogitating  the  matter,1he  door  opened 
and  Luis  de  Bobadilla  entered  the  room,  in  a  blaze  of  manly 
grace  and  rich  attire.  A  dozen  voices  uttered  his  name, 
and  Peter  Martyr  rose  to  receive  him,  with  a  manner  in 
which  kindness  of  feeling  was  blended  with  reproof. 

"  I  asked  this  honour,  Senor  Conde,"  he  said,  "  though 
you  have  now  been  beyond  my  counsel  and  control  some 


MERCEDES    QF    CASTILE.  427 

time,  for  it  appeared  to  me  that  one  fond  of  voyages  as 
yourself,  might  find  a  useful  lesson,  as  well  as  enjoy  a  high 
satisfaction,  in  listening  to  the  wonders  of  an  expedition  as 
glorious  as  this  of  Colon's.  This  worthy  seaman,  a  pilot 
no  doubt  much  confided  in  by  the  admiral,  hath  consented 
to  share  in  our  poor  hospitalities  on  this  memorable  day, 
and  is  about  to  give  us  many  interesting  facts  and  incidents 
of  the  great  adventure.  Master  Sancho  Mundo,  this  is  Don 
Luis  de  Bobadilla,  Conde  de  Llera,  a  grandee  of  high  line 
age,  and  one  that  is  not  unknown  to  the  seas,  having  often 
traversed  them  in  his  own  person." 

"  It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  tell  me  that,  Senor  Pedro," 
answered  Sancho,  returning  Luis'  gay  and  graceful  saluta 
tion,  with  profound  but  awkward  respect,  "  since  I  see  it  at 
a  glance.  His  excellency  hath  been  in  the  east  as  well  as 
Don  Christopher  and  myself,  though  ws  went  different 
ways,  and  neither  party  went  quite  as  far  as  Cathay.  I 
am  honoured  in  your  acquaintance,  Don  Luis,  and  shall 
just  say  that  the  noble  admiral  will  bring  navigation  more 
in  fashion  than  it  hath  been  of  late  years.  If  you  travel 
in  the  neigh  jourhood  of  Moguer,  I  beg  you  will  not  pass 
the  door  of  Sancho  Mundo  without  stopping  to  inquire  if 
he  be  within." 

"  That  I  most  cheerfully  promise,  worthy  master,"  said 
Luis  laughing,  and  taking  a  seat,  "  even  though  it  lead  me 
to  the  Ship-Yard  Gate.  And  now,  Senor  Pedro,  let  me  not 
interrupt  the  discourse,  which  I  discovered  was  most  inte 
resting  as  I  entered." 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  this  matter,  Senores,"  resumed 
Sancho,  gravely,  "  and  the  fact  that  appears  most  curious 
to  me,  next  to  the  whiffling  of  the  North  Star,  is  the  cir 
cumstance  that  there  are  no  doblas  in  Cipango.  Gold  is 
not  wanting,  and  it  seemeth  to  me  passing  singular  that  a 
people  should  possess  gold,  and  not  bethink  them  of  the 
convenience  of  striking  doblas,  or  some  similar  coin." 

Peter  Martyr  and  his  young  pupils  laughed  at  this  sally, 
nd  then  the  subject  was  pushed  in  another  form. 

"  Passing  by  this  question,  which  belongeth  rather  to  the 
policy  of  States,  than  to  natural  phenomena,"  continued 
Peter  Martyr,  "  what  most  struck  you  as  remarkable,  in 
the  way  of  human  nature." 


428  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  In  that  particular,  Senor,  I  think  the  island  of  the  wo 
men  may  be  set  down  as  the  most  extraordinary  of  all  the 
phernomerthons  we  fell  in  with.  I  have  known  women 
shut  themselves  up  in  convents;  and  men  too;  but  never 
did  I  hear,  before  this  voyage,  of  either  shutting  themselves 
up  in  islands !" 

"And  is  this  true?"  inquired  a  dozen  voices — "did  you 
really  meet  with  such  an  island,  Senor  ?" 

"  I  believe  we  saw  it  at  a  distance,  Senores,  and  1  hold 
it  to  be  lucky  that  we  went  no  nearer,  for  I  find  the  gossips 
of  Moguer  troublesome  enough,  without  meeting  a  whole 
island  of  them.  Then  there  is  the  bread  that  grows  like  a 
root — what  think  you  of  that,  Senor  Don  Luis  ? — Is  it  not 
a  most  curious  dish  to  taste  of?"  , 

"  Nay,  Master  Sancho,  that  is  a  question  of  your  own 
putting,  and  it  must  be  one  of  your  own  answering.  What 
know  I  of  the  wonders  of  Cipango,  since  Candia  lieth  in 
an  opposite  course.  Answer  these  matters  for  thyself, 
friend." 

"  True,  illustrious  Conde,  and  I  humbly  crave  your  par 
don.  It  is,  indeed,  the  duty  of  him  that  seeth  to  relate,  as 
it  is  the  duty  of  him  that  seeth  not  to  believe.  I  hope  all 
here  will  perform  their  several  duties." 

"  Do  these  Indians  eat  flesh  as  remarkable  as  their 
bread  ?"  inquired  a  Cerda. 

"  That  do  they,  noble  sir,  seeing  thai  they  eat  each  other. 
Neither  I  nor  Don  Christopher,  was  invited  to  any  of  their 
feasts  of  this  sort ;  for,  I  suppose,  they  were  well  convinced 
we  would  not  go ;  but  we  had  much  information  touching 
them,  and  by  the  nearest  calculation  I  could  make,  the  con 
sumption  of  men  in  the  island  of  Bohio  must  be  about 
equal  to  that  of  beeves  in  Spain." 

The  speaker  was  interrupted  by  twenty  exclamations  of 
disgust,  and  Peter  Martyr  shook  his  head  like  one  who  dis 
trusted  the  truth  of  the  account.  Still,  as  he  had  not  ex 
pected  any  very  profound  philosophy,  or  deep  learning  in 
one  of  Sancho's  character,  he  pursued  the  conversation. 

"  Know  you  any  thing  of  the  rare  birds  the  admiral 
exhibited  to  their  Highnesses  to-day  ?"  he  asked. 

"Senor,  I  am  well  acquainted  with  several,  more  par 
ticularly  with  the  parrots.  They  are  sensible  birds,  and  I 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  429 

doubt  not  might  answer  some  of  the  questions  that  are  put 
to  me  by  many  here,  in  Barcelona,  to  their  perfect  satisfac 
tion." 

"  Thou  art  a  wag,  I  see,  Senor  Sancho,  and  lovest  thy 
joke,"  answered  the  man  of  learning,  with  a  smile.  "  Give 
way  to  thy  fancy,  and  if  thou  canst  not  improve  us  with 
thy  science,  at  least  amuse  us  with  thy  conceits." 

"  San  Pedro  knows  that  I  would  do  any  thing  to  oblige 
you,  Senores ;  but  I  was  born  with  such  a  love  of  truth  in 
my  heart,  that  I  know  not  how  to  embellish.  What  I  see  I 
believe,  and  having  been  in  the  Indies,  I  cannot  shut  my 
eyes  to  their  wonders.  There  was  the  sea  of  weeds,  which 
was  no  every -day  miracle,  since  I  make  no  doubt  that  the 
devils  piled  all  these  plants  on  the  water  to  prevent  us  from 
carrying  the  cross  to  the  poor  heathens  who  dwell  on  the 
other  side  of  them.  We  got  through  that  sea  more  by  our 
prayers,  than  by  means  of  the  winds." 

The  young  men  looked  at  Peter  Martyr,  to  ascertain  how 
he  received  this  theory,  and  Peter  Martyr,  if  tinctured  with 
the  superstition  of  the  age,  was  not  disposed  to  swallow  all 
that  it  pleased  Sancho  to  assert,  even  though  the  latter  had 
made  a  voyage  to  the  Indies. 

"  Since  you  manifest  so  much  curiosity,  Senores,  on  the 
subject  of  Colon,  now  admiral  of  the  Ocean  Sea,  by  their 
Highnesses'  honourable  appointment,  I  will,  in  a  measure, 
relieve  your  minds  on  the  subject,  by  recounting  what  I 
know,"  said  Luis,  speaking  calmly,  but  with  dignity.  "  Ye 
know  that  I  was  much  with  Don  Christopher  before  he 
sailed,  and  that  I  had  some  little  connexion  with  bringing 
him  back  to  Santa  Fe,  even  when  he  had  left  the  place,  as 
was  supposed  for  the  last  time.  This  intimacy  hath  been 
renewed  since  the  arrival  of  the  Great  Genoese  at  Bar 
celona,  and  hours  have  we  passed  together  in  private,  dis 
coursing  on  the  events  of  the  last  few  months.  What  I 
have  thus  learned  I  am  ready  to  impart,  if  ye  will  do  me 
the  grace  to  listen." 

The  whole  company  giving  an  eager  assent,  Luis  now 
commenced  a  general  narrative  of  the  voyage,  detailing  ali 
the  leading  circumstances  of  interest,  and  giving  the  rea 
sons  that  were  most  in  favour  at  the  time,  concerning  the 
different  phenomena  that  had  perplexed  the  adventurers. 


430  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

He  spoke  more  than  an  hour ;  proceeding  consecutively 
from  island  to  island,  and  dilating  on  their  productions, 
imaginary  and  real.  Much  that  he  related,  proceeded  from 
the  misconceptions  of  the  admiral,  and  misinterpretations 
of  the  signs  and  language  of  the  Indians,  as  a  matter  of 
course ;  but  it  was  all  told  clearly,  in  elegant  if  not  in  elo 
quent  language,  and  with  a  singular  air  of  truth.  In  short, 
our  hero  palmed  upon  his  audience  the  results  of  his  own 
observation,  as  the  narrative  of  the  admiral,  and  more  than 
once  >vas  he  interrupted  by  bursts  of  admiration  at  the 
vividness  and  graphic  beauties  of  his  descriptions.  Even 
Sancho  listened  with  delight,  and  when  the  young  man 
concluded,  he  rose  from  his  chair,  and  exclaimed  heartily  ; — 

"  Senores,  you  may  take  all  this,  as  so  much  gospel ! 
Had  the  noble  Senor  witnessed  himself,  that  which  he  hath 
so  well  described,  it  could  not  have  been  truer,  and  I  look 
on  myself  to  be  particularly  fortunate  to  have  heard  this 
history  of  the  voyage,  which  henceforth  shall  be  my  his 
tory,  word  for  word ;  for  as  my  patron  saint  shall  remem 
ber  me,  nought  else  will  I  tell  to  the  gossips  of  Moguer, 
when  I  get  back  to  that  blessed  town  of  my  childhood." 

Sancho's  influence  was  much  impaired  by  the  effects  of 
Luis's  narrative,  which  Peter  Martyr  pronounced  to  be  one 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  scholar  who  had  accom 
panied  the  expedition.  A  few  appeals  were  made  to  the 
old  seaman,  to  see  if  he  would  corroborate  the  statements 
he  had  just  heard,  but  his  protestations  became  so  much  the 
louder  in  behalf  of  the  accuracy  of  the  account. 

It  was  wonderful  how  much  reputation  the  Conde  de 
Llera  obtained  by  this  little  deception.  To  be  able  to  repeat, 
with  accuracy  and  effect,  language  that  was  supposed  to 
have  fallen  from  the  lips  of  Columbus,  was  a  sort  of  illus 
tration  ;  and  Peter  Martyr,  who  justly  enjoyed  a  high  repu 
tation  for  intelligence,  was  heard  sounding  the  praises  of 
our  hero  in  all  places,  his  young  pupils  echoing  his  words 
with  the  ardour  and  imitation  of  youth  !  Such,  indeed,  was 
the  vast  reputation  obtained  by  the  Genoese,  that  one  gained 
a  species  of  reflected  renown  by  being  thought  to  live  in  his 
confidence,  and  a  thousand  follies  of  the  Count  of  Llera, 
real  or  imaginary,  were  forgotten  in  the  fact  that  the  ad- 
miral  had  deemed  him  worthy  of  being  the  repository  of 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  431 

facts  and  feelings  such  as  he  had  related.  As  Luis,  more 
over,  was  seen  to  be  much  in  the  company  of  Don  Chris 
topher,  the  world  was  very  willing  to  give  the  young  man 
credit  for  qualities  that,  by  some  unexplained  circumstance, 
had  hitherto  escaped  its  notice.  In  this  manner  did  Luis 
de  Bobadilla  reap  some  advantages,  of  a  public  character, 
from  his  resolution  and  enterprise,  although  vastly  less  than 
would  have  attended  an  open  admission  of  all  that  occurred. 
How  far,  and  in  what  manner,  these  qualities  availed  him 
in  his  suit  with  Mercedes,  will  appear  in  our  subsequent 
pages. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

"  Each  look,  each  motion,  waked  a  new-born  grace, 

Thai  o'er  her  form  its  transient  glory  oast : 
Some  lovelier  wonder  soon  usurp'd  the  place, 
Chased  by  a  charm  still  lovelier  than  the  last." 

MASON. 

THE  day  of  the  reception  of  Columbus  at  Barcelona,  had 
been  one  of  tumultuous  feelings,  and  of  sincere  delight,  with 
the  ingenuous  and  pure-minded  Queen  of  Castile.  She  had 
been  the  moving  spirit  of  the  enterprise,  as  it  was  connected 
with  authority  and  means,  and  never  was  a  sovereign  more 
amply  rewarded,  by  a  consciousness  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  results  that  followed  her  well-meant  and  zealous  efforts. 

When  the  excitement  and  bustle  of  the  day  were  over, 
Isabella  retired  to  her  closet,  and  there,  as  was  usual  with 
her  on  all  great  occasions,  she  poured  out  her  thankfulness 
on  her  knees,  entreating  the  Divine  Providence  to  sustain 
her  under  the  new  responsibilities  she  felt,  and  to  direct  her 
steps  aright,  equally  as  a  sovereign,  and  as  a  Christian 
woman.  She  had  left  the  attitude  of  prayer  but  a  few 
minutes,  and  was  seated  with  her  head  leaning  on  her  hand, 
in  deep  meditation,  when  a  slight  knock  at  the  door  called 
her  attention.  There  was  but  one  person  in  Spain  who 


432  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

would  be  likely  to  take  even  this  liberty,  guarded  and 
modest  as  was  the  tap ;  rising,  she  turned  the  key,  and 
admitted  the  king. 

Isabella  was  still  beautiful.  Her  form,  always  of  admi- 
rable  perfection,  still  retained  its  grace.  Her  eyes  had  lost 
but  little  of  their  lustre,  and  her  smile,  ever  sweet  and  bene 
ficent,  failed  not  to  reflect  the  pure  and  womanly  impulses 
of  her  heart.  In  a  word,  her  youthful  beauty  had  been  but 
little  impaired  by  the  usual  transition  to  the  matronly  attrac 
tions  of  a  wife  and  a  mother;  but  this  night,  all  her  youth 
ful  charms  seemed  to  be  suddenly  renewed.  Her  cheek 
was  flushed  with  holy  enthusiasm;  her  figure  dilated  with 
the  sublimity  of  the  thoughts  in  which  she  had  been  indulg 
ing;  and  her  eyes  beamed  with  the  ennobling  hopes  of 
religious  enthusiasm.  Ferdinand  was  struck  with  this  little 
change,  and  he  stood  admiring  her,  for  a  minute,  in  silence, 
after  he  had  closed  the  door. 

"  Is  not  this  a  most  wonderful  reward,  for  efforts  so 
small,  my  husband  and  love?"  exclaimed  the  queen,  who 
fancied  the  king's  thoughts  similar  to  her  own  ;  "  a  new  em 
pire  thus  cheaply  purchased,  with  riches  that  the  imagina 
tion  cannot  tell,  and  millions  of  souls  to  be  redeemed  from 
eternal  woe,  by  means  of  a  grace  that  must  be  as  unexpected 
to  themselves,  as  the  knowledge  of  their  existence  hath  been 
to  us !" 

"  Ever  thinking,  Isabella,  of  the  welfare  of  souls  !  But 
thou  art  right ;  for  what  are  the  pomps  and  glories  of  the 
world  to  the  hopes  of  salvation,  and  the  delights  of  heaven ! 
I  confess  Colon  hath  much  exceeded  all  my  hopes,  and 
raised  such  a  future  for  Spain,  that  the  mind  scarce  know- 
eth  where  to  place  limits  to  its  pictures." 

"  Think  of  the  millions  of  poor  Indians  that  may  live  to 
bless  our  sway,  and  to  feel  the  influence  and  consolations 
of  holy  church !" 

"  I  trust  that  our  kinsman  and  neighbour,  Dom  Joao,  will 
not  give  us  trouble  in  this  matter.  Your  Portuguese  have 
so  keen  an  appetite  for  discoveries,  that  they  little  relish  the 
success  of  other  powers ;  and  it  is  said  many  dangerous 
and  wicked  proposals  were  made  to  the  king,  even  while 
our  caravels  lay  in  the  Tagus." 

"  O')lon  assureth  me,  Fernando,  that  he  doubteth  if  these 
* 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  433 

Indians  have  now  any  religious  creed,  so  that  our  ministers 
will  have  no  prejudices  to  encounter,  in  presenting  to  their 
simple  minds  the  sublime  truths  of  the  gospel !" 

"  No  doubt  the  admiral  hath  fully  weighed  these  matters. 
It  is  his  opinion,  that  the  island  he  hath  called  Espanola 
wanteth  but  little  of  being  of  the  full  dimensions  of  Castile, 
Leon,  Aragon,  Granada,  and  indeed  of  all  our  possessions 
within  the  peninsula !" 

"  Didst  thou  attend  to  what  he  said,  touching  the  gentle 
ness  and  mildness  of  the  inhabitants  ?  And  wert  thou  not 
struck  with  the  simple,  confiding  aspects  of  those  he  hath 
brought  with  him  ?  Such  a  people  may  readily  be  brought, 
first,  as  is  due,  to  worship  the  one  true  and  living  God,  and 
next,  to  regard  their  sovereigns  as  kind  and  benignant 
parents." 

"  Authority  can  ever  make  itself  respected ;  and  Don 
Christopher  hath  assured  me,  in  a  private  conference,  that 
a  thousand  tried  lances  would  overrun  all  that  eastern  re 
gion.  We  must  make  early  application  to  the  Holy  Father 
to  settle  such  limits  between  us  and  Don  John,  as  may  pre 
vent  disputes,  hereafter,  touching  our  several  interests.  I 
have  already  spoken  to  the  cardinal  on  this  subject,  and  he 
flattereth  me  with  the  hope  of  having  the  ear  of  Alexander." 

"  I  trust  that  the  means  of  disseminating  the  faith  of  the 
cross  will  not  be  overlooked  in  the  negotiation ;  for  it  pain- 
eth  me  to  find  churchmen  treating  of  worldly  things,  to  tho 
utter  neglect  of  those  of  their  Great  Master." 

Don  Ferdinand  regarded  his  wife  intently  for  an  instant, 
without  making  any  reply.  He  perceived,  as  often  hap 
pened  in  questions  of  policy,  that  their  feelings  were  not 
exactly  attuned,  and  he  had  recourse  to  an  allusion  that 
seldom  failed  to  draw  the  thoughts  of  Isabella  from  their 
loftier  aspirations  to  considerations  more  worldly,  when 
rightly  applied. 

"  Thy  children,  Dona  Isabella,  will  reap  a  goodly  heri 
tage  by  the  success  of  this,  our  latest  and  greatest  stroke 
of  policy !  Thy  dominions  and  mine  will  henceforth  de 
scend  in  common  to  the  same  heir ;  then  this  marriage  in 
Portugal  may  open  the  way  to  new  accessions  of  territory , 
Granada  is  already  secured  to  thine,  by  our  united  arms , 
and  here  hath  Providence  opened  the  way  to  an  empire  ill 
37 


434  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

the  east,  ihat  promiseth  to  outdo  a.l  that  hath  yet  hee»  per 
formed  in  Europe." 

"  Are  riot  my  children  thine,  Fernando  ?  Can  good  hap 
pen  to  one,  without  its  equally  befalling  the  other  ?  I  trust 
they  will  learn  to  understand  why  so  many  new  subjects, 
and  such  wide  territories  are  added  to  their  possessions, 
and  will  ever  remain  true  to  their  highest  and  first  duty, 
that  of  spreading  the  gospel,  that  the  sway  of  the  one  Ca 
tholic  church  may  the  more  speedily  be  accomplished." 

"  Still  it  may  be  necessary  to  secure  advantages  that  arc 
offered  in  a  worldly  shape,  by  worldly  means." 

"  Thou  sayest  true,  my  lord ;  and  it  is  the  proper  care 
of  loving  parents  to  look  well  to  the  interest  of  their  off 
spring  in  this,  as  in  all  other  particulars." 

Isabella  now  lent  a  more  willing  ear  to  the  politic  sug 
gestions  of  her  consort,  and  they  passed  an  hour  in  discuss 
ing  some  of  the  important  measures  that  it  was  thought 
their  joint  interests  required  should  be  immediately  attended 
to.  After  this  Ferdinand  saluted  his  wife  affectionately, 
and  withdrew  to  his  own  cabinet,  to  labour,  as  usual,  until 
his  frame  demanded  rest. 

Isabella  sate  musing  for  a  few  minutes  after  the  king  had 
retired,  and  then  sh»  took  a  light  and  proceeded  through 
certain  private  passages,  with  which  she  was  familiar,  to 
the  apartment  of  her  daughters.  Here  she  spent  an  hour, 
indulging  in  the  affections  and  discharging  the  duties  of  a 
careful  mother,  when  embracing  each  in  turn,  she  gave  her 
blessings,  and  left  the  place  in  the  same  simple  manner  as 
she  had  entered.  Instead,  however,  of  returning  to  her 
own  part  of  the  palace,  she  pursued  her  way  in  an  opposite 
direction,  until,  reaching  a  private  door,  she  gently  tapped. 
A  voice  within  bade  her  enter,  and  complying,  the  Queen 
of  Castile  found  herself  alone  with  her  old  and  tried  friend 
the  Marchioness  of  Moya.  A  quiet  gesture  forbade  all  the 
usual  testimonials  of  respect,  and  knowing  her  mistress's 
wishes  in  this  particular,  the  hostess  received  her  illustrious 
guest,  much  as  she  would  have  received  an  intimate  of 
her  own  rank  in  life. 

<'  We  have  had  so  busy  and  joyful  a  day,  daughter-mar, 
chioness,"  the  queen  commenced,  quietly  setting  down  the 
little  silver  lamp  she  carried,  "  that  I  had  near  forgotten  a 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  435 

duty  which  ought  not  to  be  overlooked.  Thy  nephew,  the 
Count  de  Llera,  hath  returned  to  court,  bearing  himself  as 
modestly  and  as  prudently,  as  if  he  had  no  share  in  the 
glory  of  this  great  success  of  Colon's !" 

"  Senora,  Luis  is  here,  but  whether  prudent  or  modest,  I 
leave  for  others,  who  may  be  less  partial,  to  say." 

"  To  me  such  seemeth  to  be  his  deportment,  and  a  young 
mind  might  be  pardoned  some  exultation  at  such  a  result. 
But  I  have  come  to  speak  of  Don  Luis  and  thy  ward.  Now 
that  thy  nephew  hath  given  this  high  proof  of  his  perseve 
rance  and  courage,  there  can  remain  no  longer  any  reason 
for  forbidding  their  union.  Thou  knowest  that  I  hold  the 
pledged  word  of  Dona  Mercedes,  not  to  marry  without  my 
consent,  and  this  night  will  I  make  her  happy  as  I  feel 
myself,  by  leaving  her  mistress  of  her  own  wishes ;  nay, 
by  letting  her  know  that  I  desire  to  see  her  Countess  of 
Llera,  and  that  right  speedily." 

"  Your  Highness  is  all  goodness  to  me  and  mine,"  re 
turned  the  Marchioness,  coldly.  "  Mercedes  ought  to  feel 
deeply  grateful  that  her  royal  mistress  hath  a  thought  for 
her  welfare,  when  her  mind  hath  so  many  greater  concerns 
to  occupy  it." 

"  It  is  that,  my  friend,  that  hath  brought  me  hither  at 
this  late  hour.  My  soul  is  truly  burthened  with  gratitude, 
and  ere  I  sleep,  were  it  possible,  I  would  fain  make  all  as 
blessed  as  I  feel  myself.  Where  is  thy  ward  ?" 

"  She  left  me  for  the  night,  but  as  your  Highness  entered. 
I  will  summon  her  to  hear  your  pleasure." 

"  We  will  go  to  her,  Beatriz ;  tidings  such  as  I  bring 
should  not  linger  on  weary  feet." 

"  It  is  her  duty,  and  it  would  be  her  pleasure  to  pay  all 
respect,  Senora." 

"  I  know  that  well,  Marchioness,  but  it  is  my  pleasure  to 
bear  this  news  myself,"  interrupted  the  queen,  leading  the 
way  to  the  door.  "  Show  thou  the  way,  which  is  better 
known  to  thee  than  to  another.  We  go  with  little  state  and 
ceremony,  as  thou  seest,  like  Colon  going  forth  to  explore 
his  unknown  seas,  and  we  go  bearers  of  tidings  as  grateful 
to  thy  ward,  as  those  the  Genoese  bore  to  the  benighted  na 
tives  of  Cipango.  These  corridors  are  our  trackless  seas, 


436  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

and  all  these  intricate  passages  the  hidden  ways  we  are  to 
explore." 

"  Heaven  grant  your  Highness  make  not  some  discovery 
as  astounding  as  that  which  the  Genoese  hath  just  divulged ! 
For  myself,  I  scarce  know  whether  to  believe  all  things,  or 
to  grant  faith  to  none." 

"  I  wonder  not  at  thy  surprise ;  it  is  a  feeling  that  hath 
overcome  all  others,  through  the  late  extraordinary  events," 
answered  the  queen,  evidently  misconceiving  the  meaning 
of  her  friend's  words.  "  But  we  have  still  another  pleasure 
in  store ;  that  of  witnessing  the  joy  of  a  pure  female  heart 
which  hath  had  its  trials,  and  which  hath  borne  them  as 
became  a  Christian  maiden." 

Dona  Beatriz  sighed  heavily,  but  she  made  no  answer. 
By  this  time  they  were  crossing  the  little  saloon  in  which 
Mercedes  was  permitted  to  receive  her  female  acquaintances, 
and  were  near  the  door  of  her  chamber.  Here  they  met  a 
maid,  who  hastened  onward  to  inform  her  mistress  of  the 
visit  she  was  about  to  receive.  Isabella  was  accustomed  to 
use  a  mother's  liberties  with  those  she  loved,  and  opening 
the  door,  without  ceremony,  she  stood  before  our  heroine, 
ere  the  latter  could  advance  to  meet  her. 

"  Daughter,"  commmenced  the  queen,  seating  herself, 
and  smiling  benignantly  on  the  startled  girl,  "  I  have 
come  to  discharge  a  solemn  duty.  Kneel  thou  here,  at 
my  feet,  and  listen  to  thy  sovereign  as  thou  wouldst  listen 
to  a  mother." 

Mercedes  gladly  obeyed,  for,  at  that  moment,  anything 
was  preferable  to  being  required  to  speak.  When  she  had 
knelt,  the  queen  passed  an  arm  affectionately  round  hei 
neck,  and  drew  her  closer  to  her  person,  until,  by  a  little 
gentle  violence,  the  face  of  Mercedes  was  hid  in  the  folds 
of  Isabella's  robe. 

"  I  have  all  reason  to  extol  thy  faith  and  duty,  child," 
said  the  queen,  as  soon  as  this  little  arrangement,  to  favour 
the  feelings  of  Mercedes,  had  been  considerately  made ; 
"  thou  hast  not  forgotten  thy  promise,  in  aught ;  and  my 
object,  now,  is  to  leave  thee  mistress  of  thine  own  inclina 
tions,  and  to  remove  all  impediments  to  their  exercise. 
Thou  hast  no  longer  any  pledge  with  thy  sovereign ;  for 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  437 

one  w/to  hath  manifested  so  much  discretion  and  delicacy, 
may  be  surely  trusted  with  her  own  happiness." 

Mercedes  continued  silent,  though  Isabella  fancied  that 
she  felt  a  slight  shudder  passing  convulsively  through  her 
delicate  frame. 

"  No  answer,  daughter  ? — Is  it  more  preferable  to  leave 
another  arbitress  of  thy  fate,  than  to  exercise  that  office 
for  thyself?  Well,  then,  as  thy  sovereign  and  parent,  I 
will  substitute  command  for  consent,  and  tell  thee  it  is  my 
wish  and  desire  that  thou  becomest,  as  speedily  as  shall 
comport  with  propriety  and  thy  high  station,  the  wedded 
wife  of  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  Conde  de  Llera." 

"  No— no — no — Senora — never  —  never  —  "  murmured 
Mercedes,  her  voice  equally  stifled  by  her  emotions,  and  by 
the  manner  in  which  she  had  buried  her  face  in  the  dress 
of  the  queen. 

Isabella  looked  at  the  Marchioness  of  Moya  in  wonder. 
Her  countenance  did  not  express  either  displeasure  or  re 
sentment,  for  she  too  well  knew  the  character  of  our  hero 
ine  to  suspect  caprice,  or  any  weak  prevarication  in  a  mat 
ter  that  so  deeply  touched  the  feelings ;  and  the  concern  she 
felt  was  merely  overshadowed  at  the  suddenness  of  the  in 
telligence,  by  a  feeling  of  ungovernable  surprise. 

"  Canst  thou  explain  this,  Beatriz  ?"  the  queen  at  length 
inquired.  "  Have  I  done  harm,  where  I  most  intended  good  ? 
I  am  truly  unfortunate,  for  I  appear  to  have  deeply  wounded 
j;he  heart  of  this  child,  at  the  very  moment  I  fancied  I  was 
conferring  supreme  happiness  !" 

"No  —  no — no — Senora,"  again  murmured  Mercedes, 
clinging  convulsively  to  the  queen's  knees.  "  Your  High 
ness  hath  wounded  no  one  —  would  wound  no  one  —  can 
wound  no  one — you  are  all  gracious  goodness  and  thought- 
fulness." 

"  Beatriz,  I  look  to  thee  for  the  explanation  !  Hath  ought 
justifiable  occurred  to  warrant  this  change  of  feeling  ?" 

"  I  fear,  dearest  Senora,  that  the  feelings  continue  too 
much  as  formerly,  and  that  the  change  is  not  in  this  young 
and  unpractised  heart,  but  in  the  fickle  inclinations  of  man." 

A  flash  of  womanly  indignation  darted  from  the  usually 
serene  eyes  of  the  queen,  and  her  form  assumed  all  of  its 
majesty. 
37  * 


438  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

"  Can  this  be  true  ?"  she  exclaimed.  "  Would  a  subject 
of  Castile  dare  thus  to  trifle  with  his  sovereign  —  thus  to 
trifle  with  one,  sweet  and  pure  as  this  girl  —  thus  to  trifle 
with  his  faith  with  God  !  If  the  reckless  Conde  thinketh  to 
do  these  acts  of  wrongfulness  with  impunity,  let  him  look 
to  it !  Shall  I  punish  him  that  merely  depriveth  his  neigh 
bour  of  some  paltry  piece  of  silver,  and  let  him  escape  who 
woundeth  the  soul  ?  I  wonder  at  thy  calmness,  daughter- 
marchioness  ;  thou,  who  art  so  wont  to  let  an  honest  indig 
nation  speak  out  in  the  just  language  of  a  fearless  and 
honest  spirit  ?" 

"  Alas  !  Senora,  my  beloved  mistress,  my  feelings  ha\e 
had  vent  already,  and  nature  will  no  more.  The  boy, 
moreover,  is  my  brother's  son,  and  when  I  would  fain 
arouse  a  resentment  against  him,  such  as  befitteth  his  of 
fence,  the  image  of  that  dear  brother,  whose  very  picture 
he  is,  hath  arisen  to  my  mind  in  a  way  to  weaken  all  its 
energy." 

"  This  is  most  unusual !  A  creature  so  fair — so  young — 
so  noble — so  rich — every  way  so  excellent,  to  be  so  soon 
forgotten !  Canst  thou  account  for  it  by  any  wandering 
inclination,  Lady  of  Moya?" 

Isabella  spoke  musingly,  and,  as  one  of  her  high  rank  is 
apt  to  overlook  minor  considerations,  when  the  feelings  are 
strongly  excited,  she  did  not  remember  that  Mercedes  was 
a  listener.  The  convulsive  shudder  that  again  shook  the 
frame  of  our  heroine,  however,  did  not  fail  to  remind  her 
of  this  fact,  and  the  queen  could  not  have  pressed  the  prin 
cess  Juana  more  fondly  to  her  heart,  than  she  now  drew 
the  yielding  form  of  our  heroine. 

"  What  would  you,  Senora  ?"  returned  the  Marchioness, 
bitterly.  "  Luis,  thoughtless  and  unprincipled  boy  as  he  is, 
hath  induced  a  youthful  Indian  princess  to  abandon  home 
and  friends,  under  the  pretence  of  swelling  the  triumph  of 
the  admiral,  but  really,  in  obedience  to  a  wandering  fancy, 
and  in  submission  to  those  evil  caprices,  that  make  men 
what,  in  soolh,  they  are,  and  which  so  often  render  unhappy 
women  their  dupes  and  their  victims." 

"  An  Indian  princess,  say'st  thou? — The  admiral  made 
one  of  that  rank  known  to  us,  but  she  was  already  a  wife 
and  far  from  being  one  to  rival  Dona  Mercedes  of  Valverde." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  439 

«*  Ah!  dearest  Senora,  she  of  whom  you  speak  will  not 
compare  with  her  I  mean — Oaema — for  so  is  the  Indian 
lady  called — Ozema  is  a  different  being,  and  is  not  without 
high  claims  to  personal  beauty.  Could  mere  personal  ap 
pearances  justify  the  conduct  of  the  boy,  he  would  not  be 
altogether  without  excuse." 

"  How  knowest  thou  this,  Beatrix  t" 

"  Because,  your  Highness,  Luis  hath  brought  her  to  the 
palace,  and  she  is,  at  this  moment,  in  these  very  apart 
ments.  Mercedes  hath  received  her  like  a  sister,  even 
while  the  stranger  hath  unconsciously  crushed  her  heart." 

"  Here,  say'st  thou,  marchioness !  Then  can  there  be 
no  vicious  union  between  the  thoughtless  young  man  and 
the  stranger.  Thy  nephew  would  not  thus  presume  to 
offend  virtue  and  innocence." 

"Of  that  we  complain  not,  Senora.  'Tis  the  boyish  in 
constancy,  and  thoughtless  cruelty  of  the  count,  that  hath 
awakened  my  feelings  against  him.  Never  have  I  endea 
voured  to  influence  my  ward  to  favour  his  suit,  for  I  would 
not  that  they  should  have  it  in  their  power  to  say  I  sought 
a  union  so  honourable  and  advantageous  to  our  house ;  but 
now  do  I  most  earnestly  desire  her  to  steel  her  noble  heart 
to  his  unworthiness." 

"  Ah  !  Senora  —  rny  guardian,"  murmured  Mercedes, 
"  Luis  is  not  so  very  culpable.  Ozema's  beauty,  and  my 
own  want  of  the  means  to  keep  him  true,  are  alone  to 
blame." 

"  Ozema's  beauty  1"  slowly  repeated  the  queen.  "  Is  this 
young  Indian,  then,  so  very  perfect,  Beatriz,  that  thy  ward 
need  fear,  or  envy  her  ?  I  did  not  think  that  such  a  being 
lived!" 

"Your  Highness  knoweth  how  it  is  with  men.  They 
love  novelties,  and  are  most  captivated  with  the  freshest 
faces.  San  lago  ! — Andres  de  Cabrera  hath  caused  me  to 
know  this,  though  it  were  a  crime  to  suppose  any  could 
teach  this  hard  lesson  to  Isabella  of  Trastamara." 

"  Restrain  thy  strong  and  impetuous  feelings,  daughter- 
marchioness,"  returned  the  queen,  glancing  her  eye  at  the 
bowed  form  of  Mercedes,  whose  head  was  now  buried  in 
her  lap  ;  "  truth  seldom  asserts  its  fullest  power  when  the 
heart  is  overflowing  with  feeling.  Don  Andres  hath  been 


440  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

a  loyal  subject,  and  doth  justice  to  thy  merit ;  and,  as  to  my 
Lord  the  King,  he  is  the  father  of  my  children,  as  well  as 
thy  sovereign. — But,  touching  this  Ozema — can  I  see  her, 
Beatriz  ?" 

"  You  have  only  to  command,  Senora,  to  see  whom  you 
please.  But  Ozema  is,  no  doubt,  at  hand,  and  can  be 
brought  into  your  presence  as  soon  as  it  may  please  youi 
Highness  to  order  it  done." 

"  Nay,  Beatriz,  if  she  be  a  princess,  and  a  stranger  in 
the  kingdom,  there  is  a  consideration  due  to  her  rank  and 
to  her  position.  Let  Dona  Mercedes  go  and  prepare  her  to 
receive  us ;  I  will  visit  her  in  her  own  apartment.  The 
hour  is  late,  but  she  will  overlook  the  want  of  ceremony  in 
the  desire  to  do  her  service." 

Mercedes  did  not  wait  a  second  bidding,  but,  rising  from 
her  knees,  she  hastened  to  do  as  the  queen  had  suggested. 
Isabella  and  the  Marchioness  were  silent  some  Httle  time, 
when  left  to  themselves ;  then  the  former,  as  became  her 
rank,  opened  the  discourse. 

"  It  is  remarkable,  Beatriz,  that  Colon  should  not  have 
spoken  to  me  of  this  princess  I"  she  said.  "  One  of  her 
condition  ought  not  to  have  entered  Spain  with  so  little 
ceremony." 

"  The  admiral  hath  deemed  her  the  chosen  subject  of 
Luis's  care,  and  hath  left  her  to  be  presented  to  your  High 
ness  by  my  recreant  nephew.  Ah,  Senora !  is  it  not  won 
derful,  that  one  like  Mercedes  could  be  so  soon  supplanted 
by  a  half-naked,  unbaptized,  benighted  being,  on  whom  the 
church  hath  never  yet  smiled,  and  whose  very  soul  may  be 
said  to  be  in  jeopardy  of  instantaneous  condemnation  ?" 

"  That  soul  must  be  cared  for,  Beatriz,  and  that  right 
quickly.  Is  the  princess  really  of  sufficient  beauty  to  sup. 
plant  a  creature  as  lovely  as  the  Dona  Mercedes?" 

"  It  is  not  that,  Senora,  —  it  is  not  that.  But  men  are 
fickle, — and  they  so  love  novelties !  Then  is  the  modest 
restraint  of  cultivated  manners,  less  winning  to  them,  than 
the  freedom  of  those  who  deem  even  clothes  superfluous.  I 
mean  not  to  question  the  modesty  of  Ozema  ;  for,  according 
to  her  habits,  she  seemeth  irreproachable  in  this  respect ; 
but  the  ill-regulated  fancy  of  a  thoughtless  boy  may  find  a 
momentary  attraction  in  her  unfettered  conduct  and  half- 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  44 1 

attired  person,  that  is  wanting  to  the  air  and  manners  of  a 
high-born  Spanish  damsel,  who  hath  been  taught  rigidly  to 
respect  herself  and  her  sex." 

"  This  may  be  true,  as  toucheth  the  vulgar,  Beatriz,  but 
such  unworthy  motives  can  never  influence  the  Conde  de 
Llera.  If  thy  nephew  hath  really  proved  the  recreant  thou 
supposest,  this  Indian  princess  must  be  of  more  excellence 
than  we  have  thought." 

"  Of  that,  Senora,  you  can  soon  judge  for  yourself; 
here  is  the  maiden  of  Mercedes  to  inform  us  that  the 
Indian  is  ready  to  receive  the  honour  that  your  Highness 
intendeth." 

Our  heroine  had  prepared  Ozema  to  meet  the  queen.  By 
this  time,  the  young  Haytian  had  caught  so  many  Spanish 
words,  that  verbal  communication  with  her  was  far  from  dif 
ficult,  though  she  still  spoke  in  the  disconnected  and  abrupt 
manner  of  one  to  whom  the  language  was  new.  She  under 
stood  perfectly  that  she  was  to  meet  that  beloved  sovereign, 
of  whom  Luis  and  Mercedes  had  so  often  spoken  with  re 
verence  ;  and,  accustomed  herself,  to  look  up  to  caciques 
greater  than  her  brother,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  making 
her  understand  that  the  person  she  was  now  about  to  re 
ceive  was  the  first  of  her  sex  in  Spain.  The  only  miscon 
ception  which  existed,  arose  from  the  circumstance  that 
Ozema  believed  Isabella  to  be  the  queen  of  all  the  Chris 
tian  world,  instead  of  being  the  queen  of  a  particular 
country ;  for,  in  her  imagination,  both  Luis  and  Mercedes 
were  persons  of  royal  station. 

Although  Isabella  was  prepared  to  see  a  being  of  surpris 
ing  perfection  ofTorm,  she  started  with  surprise,  as  her  eye 
first  fell  on  Ozema.  It  was  not  so  much  the  beauty  of  the 
young  Indian,  that  astonished  her,  as  the  native  grace  of 
her  movements,  the  bright  and  happy  expression  of  her 
countenance,  and  the  perfect  self-possession  of  her  mien 
and  deportment.  Ozema  had  got  accustomed  to  a  degree 
of  dress  that  she  would  have  found  oppressive  at  Hayti ;  the 
sensitiveness  of  Mercedes,  on  the  subject  of  female  propriety, 
having  induced  her  to  lavish  on  her  new  friend  many  rich 
articles  of  attire,  that  singularly,  though  wildly,  contributed 
to  aid  her  charms.  Still  the  gift  of  Luis  was  thrown  over 
one  shoulder,  as  the  highest-prized  part  of  her  wardrobe, 


442  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILS. 

and  the  cross  of  Mercedes  rested  on  her  bosom,  the  most 
precious  of  all  her  ornaments. 

"  This  is  wonderful,  Beatriz !"  exclaimed  the  queen,  as 
she  stood  at  one  side  of  the  room,  while  Ozema  bowed  her 
body  in  graceful  reverence  on  the  other ;  "  can  this  rare 
being  really  have  a  soul  that  knoweth  nought  of  its  God  and 
Redeemer ! — But  let  her  spirit  be  benighted  as  it  may,  there 
is  novice  in  that  simple  mind,  or  deceit  in  that  pure  heart." 

"  Sefiora,  all  this  is  true.  Spite  of  our  causes  of  dissatis 
faction,  my  ward  and  I  both  love  her  already,  and  could 
take  her  to  our  hearts  for  ever ;  one  as  a  friend,  and  the 
other  as  a  parent." 

"  Princess,"  said  the  queen,  advancing  with  quiet  dignity 
to  the  spot  where  Ozema  stood,  with  downcast  eyes  and 
bended  body,  waiting  her  pleasure,  "  thou  art  welcome  to 
our  dominions.  The  admiral  hath  done  well  in  not  class 
ing  one  of  thy  evident  claims  and  station  among  those  whom 
he  hath  exhibited  to  vulgar  eyes.  In  this  he  hath  shown 
his  customary  judgment,  no  less  than  his  deep  respect  for 
the  sacred  office  of  sovereigns." 

"  Almirante  !"  exclaimed  Ozema,  her  looks  brightening 
with  intelligence,  for  she  had  long  known  how  to  pronounce 
the  well-earned  title  of  Columbus  ;  "  Almirante,  Mercedes  ; 
— Isabella,  Mercedes — Luis,  Mercedes,  Senora  Reyna." 

"  Beatriz,  what  meaneth  this  ?  Why  doth  the  princess 
couple  the  name  of  thy  ward  with  that  of  Colon,  with  mine, 
and  even  with  that  of  the  young  Count  of  Llera  ?" 

"  Senora,  by  some  strange  delusion,  she  hath  got  to  think 
that  Mercedes  is  the  Spanish  term  for  every  thing  that  is 
excellent  or  perfect,  and  thus  doth  she  couple  it  with  all 
that  she  most  desireth  to  praise.  Your  Highness  must  ob 
serve  that  she  even  united  Luis  and  Mercedes,  a  union  that 
we  once  fondly  hoped  might  happen,  but  which  now  would 
seem  to  be  impossible;  and  which  she  herself  must  be  the 
last  really  to  wish." 

"  Strange  delusion  !"  repeated  the  queen  ;  "  the  idea  hath 
had  its  birth  in  some  particular  cause,  for  things  like  this 
come  not  of  accidents  ;  who  but  thy  nephew,  Beatriz,  would 
know  aught  of  thy  ward,  or  who  but  he  would  have  taught 
the  princess  to  deem  her  very  name  a  sign  of  excellence  ?" 

"  Senora  1"  exclaimed  Mercedes,  the  colour  mounting  to 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  443 

her  pale  cheek,  and  joy  momentarily  flashing  in  her  eyes, 
"  can  this  be  so  T 

"  Why  not,  daughter  ?  We  may  have  been  too  hasty  in 
this  matter,  and  mistaken  what  are  truly  signs  of  devotion 
to  thee,  for  proofs  of  fickleness  and  inconstancy." 

"  Ah !  Senora !  but  this  can  never  be,  else  would  not 
Ozema  so  love  him." 

"  How  knowest  thou,  child,  that  the  princess  hath  any 
other  feeling  for  the  count  than  that  which  properly  belong- 
eth  to  one  who  is  grateful  for  his  care,  and  for  the  inex 
pressible  service  of  being  made  acquainted  with  the  virtues 
of  the  cross  1  Here  is  some  rash  error,  Beatriz." 

**  I  fear  not,  your  Highness.    Touching  the  nature  of  Oze 
ma's  feelings,  there  can  be  no  misconception,  since  the  inno 
cent  and  unpractised  creature  hath  not  art  sufficient  to  con 
ceal  them.     That  li-er  heart  is  all  Luis's,  we  discovered  in 
the  first  few  hours  of  our  intercourse ;  and  it  is  too  pure, 
unsought,  to   be  won.     The  feeling   of  the  Indian  is  not 
merely  admiration,  but  it  is  such  a  passionate  devotion,  as 
partaketh  of  the  warmth  of  that  sun,  which,  we  are  told, 
glows  with  a  heat  so  genial  in  her  native  clime." 

"  Could  one  see  so  much  of  Don  Luis,  Senora,"  added 
Mercedes,  "  under  circumstances  to  try  his  martial  virtues, 
and  so  long  daily  be  in  communion  with  his  excellent  heart, 
and  not  come  to  view  him  as  far  above  all  others  ?" 

"  Martial  virtues — excellent  heart !" — slowly  repeated  the 
queen,  "  and  yet  so  regardless  of  the  wrong  he  doeth  !  He 
is  neither  knight  nor  cavalier  worthy  of  the  sex,  if  what 
thou  thinkest  be  true,  child." 

"  Nay,  Senora,"  earnestly  resumed  the  girl,  whose  diffi 
dence  was  yielding  to  the  wish  to  vindicate  our  hero,  "  the 
princess  hath  told  us  of  the  manner  in  which  he  rescued 
her  from  her  greatest  enemy  and  persecutor,  Caonabo,  a 
headstrong  and  tyrannical  sovereign  of  her  island,  and  of 
his  generous  self-devotion  in  her  behalf." 

"  Daughter,  do  thou  withdraw,  and,  first  calling  on  Holy 
Maria  to  intercede  for  thee,  seek  the  calm  of  religious  peace 
and  submission,  on  thy  pillow.  Beatriz,  I  will  question  the 
princess  alone." 

The  Marchioness  and  Mercedes  immediately  withdrew, 
leaving  Isabella  with  Ozema,  in  possession  of  the  room. 


444  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

The  interview  that  followed  lasted  more  than  an  hour,  thai 
time  being  necessary  to  enable  the  queen  to  form  an  opinion 
of  the  stranger's  explanations,  with  the  imperfect  means  of 
communication  she  possessed.  That  OzemaTs  whole  heart 
was  Luis's,  Isabella  could  not  doubt.  Unaccustomed  to  con 
ceal  her  preferences,  the  Indian  girl  was  too  unpractised  to 
succeed  in  such  a  design,  had  she  even  felt  the  desire  to 
attempt  it ;  but,  in  addition  to  her  native  ingenuousness. 
Ozema  believed  that  duty  required  her  to  have  no  conceal 
ments  from  the  sovereign  of  Luis,  and  she  laid  bare  hei 
whole  soul  in  the  simplest  and  least  disguised  manner. 

"  Princess,"  said  the  queen,  after  the  conversation  had 
lasted  some  time,  and  Isabella  believed  herself  to  be  in  pos 
session  of  the  means  of  comprehending  her  companion,  "  I 
now  understand  your  tale.  Caonabo  is  the  chief,  or  if  thou 
wilt,  the  king  of  a  country  adjoining  thine  own ;  he  sought 
thee  for  a  wife,  but  being  already  married  to  more  than  one 
princess,  thou  didst  very  properly  reject  his  unholy  propo 
sals.  He  then  attempted  to  seize  thee  by  violence.  The 
Conde  de  Llera  was  on  a  visit  to  thy  brother  at  the 
time—" 

"  Luis — Luis'* — the  girl  impatiently  interrupted  in  her 
sweet  soft  voice — "  Luis — no  Conde — Luis." 

"  True,  princess,  but  the  Conde  de  Llera  and  Luis  de 
Bobadilla  are  one  and  the  same  person.  Luis,  then,  if  thou 
wilt,  was  present  in  thy  palace,  and  he  beat  back  the  pre 
sumptuous  cacique,  who,  not  satisfied  with  fulfilling  the  law 
of  God  by  the  possession  of  one  wife,  impiously  sought,  in 
thy  person,  a  second,  or  a  third,  and  brought  thee  off  in 
triumph.  Thy  brother,  next,  requested  thee  to  take  shelter, 
for  a  time,  in  Spain,  and  Don  Luis,  becoming  thy  guardian 
and  protector,  hath  brought  thee  hither  to  the  care  of  his 
aunt?" 

Ozema  bowed  her  head  in  acknowledgment  of  the  truth 
of  this  statement,  most  of  which  she  had  no  difficulty  in 
understanding,  the  subject  having,  of  late,  occupied  so 
much  of  her  thoughts. 

<c  And,  now,  princess,"  continued  Isabella,  "  I  must  speak 
to  thee  with  maternal  frankness,  for  I  deem  all  of  thy  birth 
my  children  while  they  dwell  in  my  realms,  and  have  a 
right  to  look  to  me  for  advice  and  protection.  Hast  thou 


* 

MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  445 

any  such  love  for  Don  Luis  as  would  induce  thee  to  forget 
thine  own  country,  and  to  adopt  his  in  its  stead  ?" 

"  Ozema  don't  know  what  «  adopt  his,'  means,"  observed 
the  puzzled  girl. 

"  I  wish  to  inquire  if  thou  would'st  consent  to  become 
the  wife  of  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla  ?" 

"  Wife"  and  "  husband"  were  wcrds  of  which  the  In 
dian  girl  had  early  learned  the  signification,  and  she  smiled 
guilelessly,  even  while  she  blushed,  and  nodded  her  assent. 

"  I  am,  then,  to  understand  that  thou  expect'st  to  marry 
the  Count,  for  no  modest  young  female,  like  thee,  would  so 
cheerfully  avow  her  preference,  without  having  that  hope 
ripened  in  her  heart,  to  something  like  certainty." 

"  Si,  Senora — Ozema,  Luis'  wife." 

"  Thou  meanest,  princess,  that  Ozema  expecteth  shortly 
to  wed  the  Count — shortly  to  become  his  wife?" 

"No — no — no — Ozema  now  Luis'  wife.  Luis  marry 
Ozema  y  already." 

"  Can  this  be  so  ?"  exclaimed  the  queen,  looking  steadily 
into  the  face  of  the  beautiful  Indian  to  ascertain  if  the 
whole  were  not  an  artful  deception.  But  the  open  and  in 
nocent  face  betrayed  no  guilt,  and  Isabella  felt  compelled  to 
believe  what  she  had  heard.  In  order,  however,  to  make 
certain  of  the  fact,  she  questioned  and  cross-questioned 
Ozema,  for  near  half  an  hour  longer,  and  always  with  the 
same  result. 

When  the  queen  arose  to  withdraw,  she  kissed  the 
princess,  for  so  she  deemed  this  wild  creature  of  an  un 
known  and  novel  state  of  society,  and  whispered  a  devout 
prayer  for  the  enlightenment  of  her  mind,  and  for  her  fu 
ture  peace.  On  reaching  her  own  apartment,  she  found 
the  Marchioness  of  Moya  in  attendance,  that  tried  friend 
being  unable  to  sleep  until  she  had  learned  the  impressions 
of  her  royal  mistress. 

"  JT  is  even  worse  than  we  had  imagined,  Beatriz,"  said 
Isabella,  as  the  other  closed  the  door  behind  her.  "  Thine 
heartless,  inconstant,  nephew  hath  already  wedded  the  In 
dian,  and  she  is,  at  this  moment,  his  lawful  wife." 

"  Senora,  there  must  be  some  mistake  in  this  !    The  rash 
boy  would  hardly  dare  to  practise  this  imposition  on  me, 
and  that  in  the  very  presence  of  Mercedes." 
38 


446  MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE. 

««  He  would  sooner  place  his  wife  in  thy  care,  daughter^ 
marchioness,  than  make  the  same  disposition  of  one  who 
had  fewer  claims  on  him.  But  there  can  be  no  mistake. 
I  have  questioned  the  princess  closely,  and  no  doubt  re- 
maineth  in  my  mind,  that  the  nuptials  have  been  solemnized 
by  religious  rites.  It  is  not  easy  to  understand  all  she 
would  wish  to  say,  but  that  much  she  often  and  distinctly 
hath  affirmed." 

"  Your  Highness  —  can  a  Christian  contract  marriage 
with  one  that  is  yet  unbaptised  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,  in  the  eye  of  the  church,  which  is  the 
eye  of  God.  But  I  rather  think  Ozema  hath  received  this 
holy  rite,  for  she  often  pointed  to  the  cross  she  weareth, 
when  speaking  of  the  union  with  thy  nephew.  Indeed, 
from  her  allusions,  I  understood  her  to  say  that  she  became 
a  Christian,  ere  she  became  a  wife." 

"And  that  blessed  cross,  Senora,  was  a  gift  of  Mercedes 
to  the  reckless,  fickle-minded  boy  ;  a  parting  gift,  in  which 
the  holy  symbol  was  intended  to  remind  him  of  constancy 
and  faith !" 

"  The  world  maketh  so  many  inroads  into  the  hearts  of 
men,  Beatriz,  that  they  know  not  woman's  reliance  and 
woman's  fidelity.  But  to  thy  knees,  and  bethink  thee  of 
asking  for  grace  to  sustain  thy  ward,  in  this  cruel,  but  un 
avoidable,  extremity." 

Isabella  now  turned  to  her  friend,  who  advanced  and 
raised  the  hand  of  her  royal  mistress  to  her  lips.  The 
queen,  however,  was  not  content  with  this  salutation,  warm 
as  it  was ;  passing  an  arm  around  the  neck  of  Dona  Bea 
triz,  she  drew  her  to  her  person,  and  imprinted  a  kiss  on 
her  forehead. 

"  Adieu,  Beatriz — true  friend  as  thou  art !"  she  said.  "  If 
constancy  hath  deserted  all  others,  it  hath  still  an  abode  in 
thy  faithful  heart." 

With  these  words  the  queen  and  the  marchioness  sepa« 
rated  each  to  find  her  pillow,  if  not  her  repose 


JtfEliCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  447 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

*  NJW,  Gondarino,  what  can  you  put  OB  now 
That  may  deceive  us  ? 

Have  ye  more  strange  illusions,  yet  more  mists, 
Through  which  the  weak  eye  may  be  led  to  error  T 
What  can  ye  say  that  may  do  satisfaction 
Both  for  her  wronged  honour  and  your  ill  ? 

BEAUMONT  AND  FLETCHER, 

THE  day  which  succeeded  the  interview  related  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  was  that  which  Cardinal  Mendoza  had 
selected  for  the  celebrated  banquet  given  to  Columbus.  On 
this  occasion,  most  of  the  high  nobility  of  the  court  were 
assembled  in  honour  of  the  admiral,  who  was  received  with 
a  distinction  which  fell  little  short  of  that  usually  devoted 
to  crowned  heads.  The  Genoese  bore  himself  modestly, 
though  nobly,  in  all  these  ceremonies;  and,  for  the  hour, 
all  appeared  to  delight  in  doing  justice  to  his  great  exploits, 
and  to  sympathise  in  a  success  so  mirch  surpassing  the 
general  expectation.  Every  eye  seemed  riveted  on  his 
person,  every  ear  listened  eagerly  to  the  syllables  as  they 
fell  from  his  lips,  every  voice  was  loud  and  willing  in  his 
his  praise. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  on  such  an  occasion,  Columbus 
was  expected  to  give  some  account  of  his  voyage  and  ad 
ventures.  This  was  not  an  easy  task,  since  it  was  virtually 
asserting  how  much  his  own  perseverance  and  spirit,  his 
sagacity  and  skill,  were  superior  to  the  knowledge  and  en 
terprise  of  the  age.  Still,  the  admiral  acquitted  himself 
with  dexterity  aad  credit,  touching  principally  on  those 
heads  which  most  redounded  to  the  glory  of  Spain,  and  the 
lustre  of  the  two  crowns. 

Among  the  guests,  was  Luis  de  Bobadilla.  The  young 
man  had  been  invited  on  account  of  his  high  rank,  and  in 
consideration  of  the  confidence  and  familiarity  with  which 
he  was  evidently  treated  by  the  admiral.  The  friendship 
of  Columbus  was  more  than  sufficient  to  erase  the  slightly 


448  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

unfavourable  impressions  that  had  been  produced  by  Luis's 
early  levities,  and  men  quietly  submitted  to  the  influence 
of  the  great  man's  example,  without  stopping  to  question 
the  motive,  or  the  end.  The  consciousness  of  having  done 
that  which  few  of  his  station  and  hopes  would  ever  dream 
of  attempting,  gave  to  the  proud  mien  and  handsome 
countenance  of  Luis,  a  seriousness  and  elevation  that  had 
not  always  been  seated  there,  and  helped  to  sustain  him  in 
the  good  opinion  that  he  had  otherwise  so  cheaply  pur 
chased.  The  manner  in  which  he  had  related  to  Peter 
Martyr  and  his  companions  the  events  of  the  expedition 
was  also  remembered,  and,  without  understanding  exactly 
why,  the  world  was  beginning  to  associate  him,  in  some 
mysterious  manner,  with  the  great  western  voyage.  Owing 
to  these  accidental  circumstances,  our  hero  was  actually 
reaping  some  few  of  the  advantages  of  his  spirit,  though 
in  a  way  he  had  never  anticipated ;  a  result  by  no  means 
extraordinary,  men  as  often  receiving  applause,  or  reproba 
tion,  for  acts  that  were  never  meditated,  as  for  those  for 
which  reason  and  justice  would  hold  them  rigidly  responsi 
ble. 

"  Here  is  a  health  to  my  lord,  their  Highnesses'  admiral 
of  the  Ocean  Sea,"  cried  Luis  de  St.  Angel,  raising  his 
cup,  so  that  all  at  the  board  might  witness  the  act.  "  Spain 
oweth  him  her  gratitude  for  the  boldest  and  most  beneficial 
enterprise  of  the  age,  and  no  good  subject  of  the  two 
Sovereigns  will  hesitate  to  do  him  honour  for  his  services." 

The  bumper  was  drunk,  and  the  meek  acknowledgments 
of  Columbus  were  listened  to  in  respectful  silence. 

"  Lord  Cardinal,"  resumed  the  free-speaking  accountant 
of  the  church's  revenues,  "  I  look  upon  the  church's  cure 
as  doubled  by  these  discoveries,  and  esteem  the  number  of 
souls  that  will  be  rescued  from  perdition  by  the  means  that 
will  now  be  employed  to  save  them,  as  forming  no  small 
part  of  the  lustre  of  the  exploit,  and  a  thing  not  likely  to 
be  forgotten  at  Rome." 

"  Thou  say'st  well,  good  de  St.  Angel,"  returned  the 
Cardinal,  "  and  the  Holy  Father  will  not  overlook  God's 
agent,  or  his  assistants.  Knowledge  came  from  the  east, 
and  we  have  long  looked  forward  to  the  time,  when,  puri 
fied  by  revelation  and  the  high  commission  that  we  hold 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  449 

direct  from  the  source  of  all  power,  it  would  be  rolled  back 
ward  to  its  place  of  beginning ;  but  we  now  see  that  its 
course  is  still  to  be  westward,  reaching  Asia  by  a  path  that 
until  this  great  discovery,  was  hid  from  human  eyes." 

Although  so  much  apparent  sympathy  ruled  at  the  festi 
val,  the  human  heart  was  at  work,  and  envy,  the  basest 
and  perhaps  the  most  common  of  our  passions,  was  fast 
swelling  in  more  than  one  breath.  The  remark  of  the 
Cardinal  produced  an  exhibition  of  the  influence  of  this 
unworthy  feeling  that  might  otherwise  have  been  smo 
thered.  Among  the  guests  was  a  noble  of  the  name  of  Juan 
de  Orbitello,  and  he  could  listen  no  longer,  in  silence,  to 
the  praises  of  those  whose  breath  he  had  been  accustomed 
to  consider  fame. 

"  Is  it  so  certain,  holy  sir,"  he  said,  addressing  his  host, 
"  that  God  would  not  have  directed  other  means  to  be  em 
ployed,  to  effect  this  end,  had  these  of  Don  Christopher 
failed  ?  Or,  are  we  to  look  upon  this  voyage  as  the  only 
known  way  in  which  all  these  heathen  could  be  rescued 
from  perdition?" 

"  No  one  may  presume,  Senor,  to  limit  the  agencies  of 
heaven,"  returned  the  cardinal,  gravely ;  "  nor  is  it  the 
office  of  man  to  question  the  means  employed,  or  to  doubt 
the  power  to  create  others,  as  wisdom  may  dictate.  Least 
of  all,  should  laymen  call  in  question  aught  that  the  church 
sanctioneth." 

"  This  I  admit,  Lord  Cardinal,"  answered  the  Senor  de 
Orbitello,  a  little  embarrassed,  and  somewhat  vexed  at  the 
implied  rebuke  of  the  churchman's  remarks,  "  and  it  was 
the  least  of  my  intentions  to  do  so.  But,  you,  Senor  Don 
Christopher,  did  you  deem  yourself  an  agent  of  heaven  in 
this  expedition  ?" 

"  I  have  always  considered  myself  a  most  unworthy  in 
strument,  set  apart  for  this  great  end,  Senor,"  returned  the 
admiral,  with  a  grave  solemnity  that  was  well  suited  to  im 
pose  on  the  spectators.  "  From  the  first,  I  have  felt  this 
impulse,  as  being  of  divine  origin,  and  I  humbly  trust  hea 
ven  is  not  displeased  with  the  creature  it  hath  employed." 

"  Do   you   then   imagine,   Senor  Almirante,  that  Spain 
could  not  produce  another,  fitted  equally  with  yourself,  to 
38* 


450  MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE. 

execute  this  great  enterprise,  had  any  accident  prevented 
cither  your  sailing  or  your  success  ?" 

The  boldness,  as  well  as  the  singularity  of  this  question, 
produced  a  general  pause  in  the  conversation,  and  every 
head  was  bent  a  little  forward  in  expectation  of  the  reply. 
Columbus  sate  silent  for  more  than  a  minute ;  then,  reach 
ing  forward,  he  took  an  egg,  and  holding  it  up  to  view,  he 
«poke  mildly,  but  with  great  gravity  and  earnestness  of 
manner. 

"  Senores,"  he  said,  "  is  there  one  here  of  sufficient  ex- 
pertness  to  cause  this  egg  to  stand  on  its  end  1  If  such  a 
man  be  present,  I  challenge  him  to  give  us  an  exhibition 
of  his  skill." 

The  request  produced  a  good  deal  of  surprise ;  but  a 
dozen  immediately  attempted  the  exploit,  amid  much  laugh 
ter  and  many  words.  More  than  once,  some  young  noble 
thought  he  had  succeeded,  but  the  instant  his  fingers  quitted 
the  egg,  it  rolled  upon  the  table,  as  if  in  mockery  of  his 
awkwardness. 

"By  Saint  Luke,  Senor  Almirante,  but  this  notable 
achievement  surpasseth  our  skill,'*  cried  Juan  de  Orbitello. 
*'  Here  is  the  Conde  de  Llera,  who  hath  slain  so  many 
Moors,  and  who  hath  even  unhorsed  Alonzo  de  Ojeda,  in  a 
tourney,  can  make  nothing  of  his  egg,  in  the  way  you 
mention." 

"  And  yet  it  will  no  longer  be  difficult  to  him,  or  even  to 
you,  Senor,  when  the  art  shall  be  exposed." 

Saying  thus,  Columbus  tapped  the  smaller  end  of  his 
egg  lightly  on  the  table,  when,  the  shell  being  forced  in,  it 
possessed  a  base  on  which  it  stood  firmly  and  without  tre- 
mour.  A  murmur  of  applause  followed  this  rebuke,  and 
the  Lord  of  Orbitello  was  fain  to  shrink  back  into  an  insig 
nificance,  from  which  it  would  have  been  better  for  him 
never  to  have  emerged.  At  this  precise  instant  a  royal 
page  spoke  to  the  admiral,  and  then  passed  on  to  the  seat 
of  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla. 

"  I  am  summoned  hastily  to  the  presence  of  the  queen, 
Lord  Cardinal,"  observed  the  admiral,  "  and  look  to  your 
Grace  for  an  apology  for  my  withdrawing.  The  business 
is  of  weight,  by  the  manner  of  the  message,  and  you  will 
pardon  my  now  quitting  the  board,  though  it  seem  early." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE-  451 

The  usual  reply  was  made ;  arid,  bowed  to  the  door  by 
hw  host  and  all  present,  Columbus  quitted  the  room.  Al 
most  at  the  same  instant,  he  was  followed  by  the  Conde  de 
Llera. 

"Whither  goest  thou,  in  this  hurry,  Don  Luis?"  de 
manded  the  admiral,  as  the  other  joined  him.  "  Art  thou 
in  so  great  haste  to  quit  a  banquet  such  as  Spain  hath  not 
often  seen,  except  in  the  palaces  of  her  kings?" 

"  By  San  lago !  nor  there,  neither,  Seiior,"  answered  the 
young  man,  gaily,  "  if  King  Ferdinand's  board  be  taken 
as  the  sample.  But  I  quit  this  goodly  company  in  obe 
dience  to  an  order  of  Dona  Isabella,  who  hath  suddenly 
summoned  me  to  her  royal  presence." 

"  Then,  Senor  Conde,  we  go  together,  and  are  like  to 
meet  on  the  same  errand.  I,  too,  am  hastening  to  the 
apartments  of  the  queen." 

"  It  gladdens  my  heart  to  hear  this,  Senor,  as  I  know  of 
but  one  subject  on  which  a  common  summons  should  be 
sent  to  us.  This  affair  toucheth  on  my  suit,  and,  doubtless, 
you  will  be  required  to  speak  of  my  bearing  in  the  voyage." 

"  My  mind  and  my  time  have  been  so  much  occupied, 
of  late,  with  public  cares,  Luis,  that  I  have  not  had  an  oc 
casion  to  question  you  of  this.  How  fareth  the  Lady  of 
Valverde,  and  when  will  she  deign  to  reward  thy  constancy 
and  love." 

"  Seiior,  I  would  I  could  answer  the  last  of  these  ques 
tions  with  greater  certainty,  and  the  first  with  a  lighter 
heart.  Since  my  return  I  have  seen  Dona  Mercedes  but 
thrice ;  and  though  she  was  all  gentleness  and  truth,  my 
suit  for  the  consummation  of  my  happiness  hath  been 
coldly  and  evasively  answered  by  my  aunt.  Her  Highness 
is  to  be  consulted,  it  would  seem ;  and  the  tumult  produced 
by  the  success  of  the  voyage  hath  so  much  occupied  her, 
that  there  hath  been  no  leisure  to  wait  on  trifles  such  as 
those  that  lead  to  the  felicity  of  a  wanderer  like  myself." 

"  Then  is  it  like,  Luis,  that  we  are  indeed  summoned  on 
this  very  affair ;  else,  why  should  thou  and  I  be  brought 
together  in  a  manner  so  unusual  and  so  sudden." 

Our  hero  was  not  displeased  to  fancy  this,  and  he  entered 
the  apartments  of  the  queen  with  a  step  as  elastic,  and 
a  mien  as  bright,  as  if  he  had  come  to  wed  his  love. 


452  MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE. 

The  Admiral  of  the  Ocean  Sea,  as  Columbus  was  now  pub 
licly  called,  had  not  long  to  wait  in  ante-chambers,  and,  ere 
many  minutes,  he  and  his  companions  were  ushered  into 
the  presence. 

Isabella  received  her  guests  in  private,  there  being  no 
one  in  attendance  but  the  Marchioness  of  Moya,  Mercedes, 
and  Ozema.  The  first  glances  of  their  eyes  told  Columbus 
and  Luis  that  all  was  not  right.  Every  countenance  de 
noted  that  its  owner  was  endeavouring  to  maintain  a  calm 
ness  that  was  assumed.  The  queen  herself  was  serene  an<? 
dignified,  it  is  true,  but  her  brow  was  thoughtful,  her  eye 
melancholy,  and  her  cheek  slightly  flushed.  As  for  Dona 
Beatriz,  sorrow  and  indignation  struggled  in  her  expressive 
face,  and  Luis  saw,  with  concern,  that  her  look  was  averted 
from  him  in  a  way  she  always  adopted  when  he  had  se 
riously  incurred  her  displeasure.  Mercedes's  lips  were 
pale  as  death,  though  a  bright  spot,  like  vermilion,  waa 
stationary  on  each  cheek  ;  her  eyes  were  downcast,  and  all 
her  mien  was  humbled  and  timid.  Ozema  alone  seemed 
perfectly  natural :  still,  her  glances  were  quick  and  anxious, 
though  a  gleam  of  joy  danced  in  her  eyes,  and  even  a  slight 
exclamation  of  delight  escaped  her,  as  she  beheld  Luis, 
whom  she  had  seen  but  once  since  her  arrival  in  Barcelona, 
already  near  a  month. 

Isabella  advanced  a  step  or  two,  to  meet  the  admiral,  and 
when  the  last  would  have  kneeled,  she  hurriedly  prevented 
the  act  by  giving  him  her  hand  to  kiss. 

"  Not  so — not  so — Lord  Admiral,"  exclaimed  the  queen  ; 
"  this  is  homage  unsuited  to  thy  high  rank  and  eminent 
services.  If  we  are  thy  sovereigns,  so  are  we  also  thy 
friends.  I  fear  my  lord  cardinal  will  scarce  pardon  the 
orders  I  sent  him,  seeing  that  it  hath  deprived  him  of  thy 
society  somewhat  sooner  than  he  may  have  expected." 

**  His  Eminence,  and  all  his  goodly  company,  have  that 
to  muse  on,  Senora,  that  may  yet  occupy  them  some  time," 
returned  Columbus,  smiling  in  his  grave  manner ;  "  doubt 
less,  they  will  less  miss  me  than  at  an  ordinary  time. 
Were  it  otherwise,  both  I,  and  this  young  count,  would  not 
scruple  to  quit  even  a  richer  banquet,  to  obey  the  summons 
of  your  Highness." 

"  I  doubt  it  not,  Senor,  but  I  have  desired  to  see  th«, 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  453 

Ais  night,  on  a  matter  of  private,  rather  than  of  public 
concernment.  Dona  Beatrix,  here,  hath  made  known  to 
me  the  presence  at  court,  as  well  as  the  history  of  this  fair 
being,  who  giveth  one  an  idea  so  much  more  exalted  of  thy 
vast  discoveries,  that  I  marvel  she  should  ever  have  been 
concealed.  Know'st  thou  her  rank,  Don  Christopher,  and 
the  circumstances  that  have  brought  her  to  Spain  1" 

"  Senora,  I  do  ;  in  part  through  my  own  observation,  and 
in  part  from  the  statements  of  Don  Luis  de  Bobadilla.  I 
consider  the  rank  of  the  lady  Ozema  to  be  less  than  royal, 
and  more  than  noble,  if  our  opinions  will  allow  us  to  ima 
gine  a  condition  between  the  two ;  though  it  must  always 
be  remembered  that  Hayti  is  not  Castile ;  the  one  being  be 
nighted  under  the  cloud  of  heathenism,  and  the  other  exist 
ing  in  the  sunshine  of  the  church  and  civilization." 

"  Nevertheless,  Don  Christopher,  station  is  station,  and 
the  rights  of  birth  are  not  impaired  by  the  condition  of  a 
country.  Although  it  hath  pleased  him  already,  and  will 
still  further  please  the  head  of  the  church,  to  give  us  rights, 
in  our  characters  of  Christian  princes,  over  these  caciques 
of  India,  there  is  nothing  unusual  or  novel  in  the  fact. 
The  relation  between  the  suzerain  and  the  lieges  is  ancient 
and  well  established ;  and  instances  are  not  wanting,  in 
which  powerful  monarchs  have  held  certain  of  their  States 
by  this  tenure,  while  others  have  come  direct  from  God. 
[n  this  view,  I  feel  disposed  to  consider  the  Indian  lady  as 
more  than  noble,  and  have  directed  her  to  be  treated  accord 
ingly.  There  remaineth  only  to  relate  the  circumstances 
that  have  brought  her  to  Spain." 

"  These  can  better  come  from  Don  Luis  than  from  me, 
Senora ;  he  being  most  familiar  with  the  events." 

11  Nay,  Senor,  I  would  hear  them  from  thine  own  lips. 
I  am  already  possessed  of  the  substance  of  the  Conde  de 
Llera's  story." 

Columbus  looked  both  surprised  and  pained,  but  he  did 
not  hesitate  about  complying  with  the  queen's  request. 

"  Hayti  hath  its  greater  and  its  lesser  princes,  or  ca- 
siques,  your  Highness,"  he  added,  "  the  last  paying  a  spe 
cies  of  homage,  and  owing  a  certain  allegiance  to  the  first, 
as  hath  been  said — " 

"  Thou  see'st,  daughter-marchioness,  this  is  but  a  natu- 


454  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

ral  order  of  government,  prevailing  equally  in  the  East  and 
in  the  West !" 

"  Of  the  first  of  these  was  Guacanagari,  of  whom  I  have 
already  related  so  much  to  your  Highness,"  continued  Co 
lumbus,  "  and  of  the  last,  Mattinao,  the  brother  of  this 
lady.  Don  Luis  visited  the  cacique  Mattinao,  and  was  pre 
sent  at  an  inroad  of  Caonabo,  a  celebrated  Carib  chief,  who 
would  fain  have  made  a  wife  of  her  who  now  stands  in  this 
illustrious  presence.  The  Coride  conducted  himself  like  a 
gallant  Castilian  cavalier,  routed  the  foe,  saved  the  lady, 
and  brought  her  in  triumph  to  the  ships.  Here  it  was  de 
termined  she  should  visit  Spain,  both  as  a  means  of  throw 
ing  more  lustre  on  the  triumph  of  the  two  crowns,  and  of 
removing  her,  for  a  season,  from  the  attempts  of  the  Carib, 
who  is  too  powerful  and  warlike  to  be  withstood  by  a  race 
as  gentle  as  that  of  Mattinao's." 

"This  is  well,  Senor,  and  what  I  have  already  heard; 
but  how  happeneth  it,  that  Ozema  did  not  appear  with  the 
rest  of  thy  train,  in  the  public  reception  of  the  town?" 

"  It  was  the  wish  of  Don  Luis  it  should  be  otherwise, 
and  I  consented  that  he  and  his  charge  should  sail  pri 
vately  from  Palos,  with  the  expectation  of  meeting  me  in 
Barcelona.  We  both  thought  the  lady  Ozema  too  supe 
rior  to  her  companions,  to  be  exhibited  to  rude  eyes  as  a 
spectacle." 

"  There  was  delicacy,  if  there  were  not  prudence  in  the 
arrangement,"  the  queen  observed  a  little  drily.  "  Then 
the  lady  Ozema  hath  been  some  weeks  solely  in  the  care 
of  theCondedeLlera?" 

"  I  so  esteem  it,  your  Highness,  ex  cept  as  she  hath  been 
placed  under  the  guardianship  of  the  Marchioness  of  Moya." 

"  Was  this  altogether  discreet,  Don  Christopher,  or  as 
one  prudent  as  thou  should'st  have  consented  to  ?" 

"  Sefiora !"  exclaimed  Luis,  unable  to  restrain  his  feel 
ings  longer. 

"  Forbear,  young  sir,"  commanded  the  queen.  "  I  shall 
have  occasion  to  question  thee  presently,  when  thou  may'st 
have  a  need  for  all  thy  readiness,  to  give  the  fitting  an 
swers.  Doth  not  thy  discretion  rebuke  thy  indiscretion  in 
this  matter,  Lord  Admiral?" 

"  Sefiora,  the  question,  like  its  motive,  is  altogether  new 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  455 

to  me ;  I  have  the  utmost  reliance  on  the  honour  of  the 
Count,  and  then  did  I  know  that  his  heart  Y  ath  long  been 
given  to  the  fairest  and  worthiest  damsel  of  Spain ;  be 
sides,  my  mind  hath  been  so  much  occupied  with  the  grave 
subjects  of  your  Highness'  interests,  that  it  hath  had  but 
little  opportunity  to  dwell  on  minor  things." 

"  I  believe  thee,  Senor,  and  thy  pardon  is  secure.  Still, 
for  one  so  experienced,  it  was  a  sore  indiscretion  to  trust  to 
the  constancy  of  a  fickle  heart,  when  placed  in  the  body 
of  a  light-minded  and  truant  boy.  And,  now,  Conde  de 
Llera,  I  have  that  to  say  to  thee,  which  thou  may'st  find  it 
difficult  to  answer.  Thou  assentest  to  all  that  hath  hith 
erto  been  said  ?" 

"  Certainly,  Senora.  Don  Christopher  can  have  no  mo 
tive  to  misstate,  even  were  he  capable  of  the  meanness.  I 
trust  our  house  hath  not  been  remarkable  in  Spain,  for 
recreant  and  false  cavaliers." 

«'  In  that  I  fully  agree.  If  thy  house  hath  had  the  mis- 
fortune  to  produce  one  untrue  and  recreant  heart,  it  hath 
the  glory" — glancing  at  her  friend — "  of  producing  others 
that  might  equal  the  constancy  of  the  most  heroic  minds 
of  antiquity.  The  lustre  of  the  name  of  Bobadilla  doth 
not  altogether  depend  on  the  fidelity  and  truth  of  its  head 

nay,  hear  me,  sir,  and  speak  only  when  thou  art  ready 

to  answer  my  questions.  Thy  thoughts,  of  late,  have  been 
bent  on  matrimony  ?" 

"  Senora,  I  confess  it.  Is  it  an  offence  to  dream  of  the 
honourable  termination  of  a  suit  that  hath  been  long  urged, 
and  which  I  had  dared  to  hope  was  finally  about  to  receive 
your  own  royal  approbation  ?" 

"  It  is  then  as  I  feared,  Beatrix  !"  exclaimed  the  queen  ; 
«  and  this  benighted  but  lovely  being  hath  been  deceived  by 
the  mockery  of  a  marriage  ;  for  no  subject  of  Castile  would 
dare  thus  to  speak  of  wedlock,  in  my  presence,  with  the 
consciousness  that  his  vows  had  actually  and  lawfully  been 
given  to  another.  Both  the  church  and  the  prince  would 
not  be  thus  braved,  by  even  the  greatest  profligate  of 
Spain!" 

"Senora,  your  Highness  speaketh  most  crue.lly,  even 
while  you  speak  in  riddles !"  cried  Luis.  "  May  I  presume 
to  ask  if  I  am  meant  in  these  severe  remarks  ?" 


456  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

"  Of  whom  else  should  we  be  speaking,  or  to  whom  else 
allude?  Thou  must  have  the  inward  consciousness,  un« 
principled  boy,  of  all  thy  unworthiness ;  and  yet  thou 
darest  thus  to  brave  thy  sovereign — nay,  to  brave  that  suf 
fering  and  angelic  girl,  with  a  mien  as  bold  as  if  sustained 
by  the  purest  innocence !" 

"Senora,  I  am  no  angel,  myself,  however  willing  to 
admit  Dona  Mercedes  to  be  one ;  neither  am  I  a  saint  of 
perfect  purity,  perhaps  —  in  a  word,  I  am  Luis  de  Boba- 
clilla — but  as  far  from  deserving  these  reproaches,  as  from 
deserving  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  Let  me  humbly  de 
mand  my  offence?" 

"Simply  that  thou  hast  either  cruelly  deceived,  by  a 
feigned  marriage,  this  uninstructed  and  confiding  Indian 
princess,  or  hast  insolently  braved  thy  sovereign  with  the 
professions  of  a  desire  to  wed  another,  with  thy  faith 
actually  plighted  at  the  altar,  to  another.  Of  which  of 
these  crimes  thou  art  guilty,  thou  knowest  best,  thyself." 

"And  thou,  my  aunt  —  thou,  Mercedes  —  dost  thou,  too, 
believe  me  capable  of  this  ?" 

"  I  fear  it  is  but  too  true,"  returned  the  marchioness, 
coldly ;  "  the  proof  is  such  that  none  but  an  Infidel  could 
deny  belief." 

•;  Mercedes  ?" 

"  No,  Luis,"  answered  the  generous  girl,  with  a  warmth 
and  feeling  that  broke  down  the  barriers  of  all  conventional 
restraint — "  I  do  not  think  thee  base  as  this — I  do  not  think 
thee  base  at  all ;  merely  unable  to  restrain  thy  wandering 
inclinations.  I  know  thy  heart  too  well,  and  thine  honour 
too  well,  to  suppose  aught  more  than  a  weakness  that  thou 
would'st  fain  subdue,  but  canst  not." 

"  God  and  the  Holy  Virgin  be  blessed  for  this !"  cried 
the  count,  who  had  scarcely  breathed  while  his  mistress 
was  speaking.  "  Anything  but  thy  entertaining  so  low  an 
opinion  of  me,  may  be  borne !" 

"  There  must  be  an  end  of  this,  Beatriz ;  and  I  see  no 
surer  mean*,  than  by  proceeding  at  once  to  the  facts,"  said 
the  queen.  "  Come  hither,  Ozema,  and  let  thy  testimony 
set  this  matter  at  rest,  for  ever." 

The  young  Indian,  who  comprehended  Spanish  much 
better  than  she  expressed  herself  in  the  language,  although 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  457 

far  from  having  even  a  correct  understanding  of  all  that 
was  said,  immediately  complied,  her  whole  soul  being  en 
grossed  with  what  was  passing,  while  her  intelligence  was 
baffled  in  its  attempts  thoroughly  to  comprehend  it.  Mer 
cedes  alone  had  noted  the  workings  of  her  countenance,  as 
Isabella  reproved,  or  Luis  made  his  protestations,  and  they 
were  such  as  completely  denoted  the  interest  she  felt  in 
our  hero. 

"  Ozema,"  resumed  the  queen,  speaking  slowly,  and 
with  deliberate  distinctness,  in  order  that  the  other  might 
get  the  meaning  of  her  words  as  she  proceeded.  "  Speak 
— art  thou  wedded  to  Luis  de  Bobadilla,  or  not  ?" 

"  Ozema  Luis's  wife,"  answered  the  girl,  laughing  and 
blushing.  "  Luis  Ozema's  husband." 

"  This  is  plain  as  words  can  make  it,  Don  Christopher, 
*nd  is  no  more  than  she  hath  already  often  affirmed,  on  my 
anxious  and  repeated  inquiries.  How  and  when  did  Luis 
wed  thee,  Ozema  ?" 

"  Luis  wed  Ozema  with  religion  —  with  Spaniard's  reli 
gion.  Ozema  wed  Luis  with  love  and  duty  —  with  Hayti 
manner." 

"  This  is  extraordinary,  Senora,"  observed  the  admiral, 
'*  and  I  would  gladly  look  into  it.  Have  I  your  Highness's 
permission  to  inquire  into  the  affair,  myself?" 

"  Do  as  thou  wilt,  Senor,"  returned  the  queen,  coldly. 
"  My  own  mind  is  satisfied,  and  it  behoveth  my  justice  to 
net  speedily." 

"  Conde  de  Llera,  dost  thou  admit,  or  dost  thou  deny,  that 
thou  art  the  husband  of  the  lady  Ozema]"  demanded  Co- 
•umbus,  gravely. 

"  Lord  Admiral,  I  deny  it  altogether.  Neither  have  I 
redded  her,  nor  hath  the  thought  of  so  doing,  with  any 
but  Mercedes,  ever  crossed  my  mind." 

This  was  said  firmly,  and  with  the  open  frankness  that 
formed  a  principal  charm  in  the  young  man's  manner. 

"  Hast  thou,  then,  wronged  her,  and  given  her  a  right  to 
think  that  thou  didst  mean  wedlock  ?" 

"  I  have  not.  Mine  own  sister  would  not  have  been  more 
respected  than  hath  Ozema  been  respected  by  me,  as  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  I  have  hastened  to  place  her  in  the 
39 


458  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

care  of  my  dear  aunt,  and  in  the  company  of  Dofia  Mer 
cedes." 

"  This  seemeth  reasonable,  Sefiora  ;  for  man  hath  ever 
that  much  respect  for  virtue  in  your  sex,  that  he  hesitateth 
to  offend  it  even  in  his  levities." 

"  In  opposition  to  all  these  protestations,  and  to  so  much 
fine  virtue,  Senor  Colon,  we  have  the  simple  declaration  of 
one  untutored  in  deception — a  mind  too  simple  to  deceive ; 
and  of  a  rank  and  hopes  that  would  render  such  a  fraud  as 
unnecessary  as  it  would  be  unworthy.  Beatriz,  thou  dost 
agree  with  me,  and  cannot  find  an  apology  for  this  recreant 
knight,  even  though  he  were  once  the  pride  of  thy  house  ?" 

"  Senora,  I  know  not.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  fail 
ings  and  weaknesses  of  the  boy  —  and  heaven  it  knows 
that  they  have  been  many  —  deception  and  untruth  have 
never  made  a  part.  I  have  even  ascribed  the  manner  in 
which  he  hath  placed  the  princess  in  my  immediate  care, 
to  the  impulses  of  a  heart  that  did  not  wish  to  conceal  the 
errors  of  the  head,  and  to  the  expectation  that  her  presence 
in  my  family  might  sooner  bring  me  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  I  could  wish  that  the  lady  Ozema  might  be  ques 
tioned  more  closely,  in  order  that  we  make  certain  of  not 
being  under  the  delusion  of  some  strange  error." 

"  This  is  right,"  observed  Isabella,  whose  sense  of  jus 
tice  ever  inclined  her  to  make  the  closest  examination  into 
the  merits  of  every  case  that  required  her  decision.  "  The 
fortune  of  a  grandee  depends  on  the  result,  and  it  is  meet 
he  enjoy  all  fair  means  of  vindicating  himself  from  su 
heinous  an  offence.  Sir  Count,  thou  canst,  therefore,  ques 
tion  her,  in  our  presence,  touching  all  proper  grounds  of 
inquiry." 

"  Senora,  it  would  ill  become  a  knight  to  put  himself  in 
array  against  a  lady,  and  she,  too,  of  the  character  and 
habits  of  this  stranger,"  answered  Luis,  proudly  ;  colour 
ing  as  he  spoke,  with  the  consciousness  that  Ozema  was 
utterly  unable  to  conceal  her  predilection  in  his  favour. 
"  If  such  an  office  is,  indeed,  necessary,  its  functions  would 
better  become  another." 

"  As  the  stern  duty  of  puni-shing  must  fall  on  me,"  the 
queen  calmly  observed,  "  I  will  then  assume  this  unpleasant 
office.  Senor  Almirante,  we  may  not  shrink  from  any  oh. 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  459 

ligation  that  brings  us  nearer  to  the  greatest  attribute  of 
God,  his  justice.  Princess,  thou  hast  said  that  Don  Luis 
hath  wedded  thee,  and  that  thou  considerest  thyself  his 
wife.  When  and  where  didst  thou  meet  him  before  a 
priest  ?" 

So  many  attempts  had  been  made  to  convert  Ozema  to 
Christianity,  that  she  was  more  familiar  with  the  terms 
connected  with  religion  than  with  any  other  part  of  the 
language,  though  her  mind  was  a  confused  picture  of  ima 
ginary  obligations,  and  of  mystical  qualities.  Like  all  who 
are  not  addicted  to  abstractions,  her  piety  was  more  con 
nected  with  forms  than  with  principles,  and  she  was  better 
disposed  to  admit  the  virtue  of  the  ceremonies  of  the 
church  than  the  importance  of  its  faith.  The  question  of 
the  queen  was  understood,  and,  therefore,  it  was  answered 
without  guile,  or  a  desire  to  deceive. 

"  Luis  wed  Ozema  with  Christian's  cross,"  she  said, 
pressing  to  her  heart  the  holy  emblem  that  the  young  man 
had  given  to  her  in  a  moment  of  great  peril,  and  in  a 
manner  the  reader  already  knows.  "  Luis  think  he  about 
to  die  —  Ozema  think  she  about  to  die  —  both  wish  to  die 
man  and  wife,  and  Luis  wed  with  the  cross,  like  good 
Spanish  Christian.  Ozema  wed  Luis  in  her  heart,  like 
Hayti  lady,  in  her  own  country." 

"  Here  is  some  mistake — some  sad  mistake,  growing  out 
of  the  difference  of  language  and  customs,"  observed  the 
admiral.  "  Don  Luis  hath  not  been  guilty  of  this  deception. 
I  witnessed  the  offering  of  that  cross,  which  was  made  at 
sea,  during  a  tempest,  and  in  a  way  to  impress  me  favour 
ably  with  the  count's  zeal  in  behalf  of  a  benighted  soul. 
There  was  no  wedlock  there ;  nor  could  any,  but  one  who 
hath  confounded  our  usages,  through  ignorance,  imagine 
more  than  the  bestowal  of  a  simple  emblem,  that  it  was 
hoped  might  be  useful,  in  extremity,  to  one  that  had  not 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  baptism  and  the  church's  offices." 

"  Don  Luis,  dost  thou  confirm  this  statement,  and  also 
assert  that  thy  gift  was  made  solely  with  this  object  ?" 
asked  the  queen, 

"  Seiiora,  it  is  moat  true.  Death  was  staring  us  in  the 
face,  and  I  felt  that  this  poor  wanderer,  who  had  trusted 
herself  to  our  care,  with  tte  simple  coniidence  of  a  child, 


460  MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE. 

needed  some  consolation  ;  none  seemed  so  meet,  at  the  mo 
ment,  as  that  memorial  of  our  hlessed  Redeemer,  and  of 
our  own  redemption.  To  me  it  seemed  to  be  the  preserva* 
tive  next  to  baptism." 

"  Hast  thou  never  stood  before  a  priest  with  her,  nor  in 
any  manner  abused  her  guileless  simplicity  ?" 

"  Senora,  it  is  not  my  nature  to  deceive,  and  every  weak 
ness  of  which  I  have  been  guilty  in  connexion  with  Ozema 
shall  be  revealed.  Her  beauty  and  her  winning  manners 
speak  for  themselves,  as  doth  her  resemblance  to  Dona 
Mercedes.  The  last,  greatly  inclined  me  to  her,  and,  had  not 
my  heart  been  altogether  another's,  it  would  have  been  my 
pride  to  make  the  princess  my  wife.  But  we  met  too  late 
for  that ;  and  even  the  resemblance  led  to  comparisons,  in 
which  one,  educated  in  infidelity  and  ignorance,  must  ne 
cessarily  suffer.  That  I  have  had  moments  of  tenderness 
for  Ozema,  I  will  own ;  but  that  they  ever  supplanted,  or 
came  near  supplanting,  my  love  for  Mercedes,  I  do  deny. 
If  I  have  any  fault  to  answer  for,  to  the  lady  Ozema,  it  is 
because  I  have  not  always  been  able  to  suppress  the  feel 
ings  that  her  likeness  to  the  Dona  Mercedes,  and  her  own 
ingenuous  simplicity  —  chiefly  the  former  —  have  induced. 
Never  otherwise,  in  speech  or  act,  have  I  offended  against 
her." 

"  This  soundeth  upright  and  true,  Beatrix.  Thou  know- 
est  the  count  better  than  I,  and  can  easier  say  how  far  we 
ought  to  confide  in  these  explanations." 

"  My  life  on  their  truth,  my  beloved  mistress  !  Luis  is 
no  hypocrite,  and  I  rejoice  —  oh  !  how  exultingly  do  I  re 
joice  ! — at  finding  him  able  to  give  this  fair  vindication  of 
his  conduct.  Ozema,  who  hath  heard  of  our  form  of  wed 
lock,  and  hath  seen  our  devotion  to  the  cross,  hath  mistaken 
her  position,  as  she  hath  my  nephew's  feelings,  and  sup 
posed  herself  a  wife,  when  a  Christian  girl  would  not  have 
been  so  cruelly  deceived." 

"  This  really  hath  a  seeming  probability,  Senores,"  con 
tinued  the  queen,  with  her  sex's  sensitiveness  to  her  sex's 
delicacy  of  sentiment,  not  to  say  to  her  sex's  rights  — 
"  This  toucheth  of  a  lady's  —  nay,  of  a  princess'  feelings, 
and  must  not  be  treated  of  openly.  It  is  proper  that  any 
further  explanations  should  be  made  only  among  females 


MERCEDES    OP   CASTILE.  46 J[ 

and  I  trust  to  your  honour,  as  cavaliers  and  nobles,  that 
what  hath  this  night  been  said  never  be  spoken  of,  amid  the 
revels  of  men.  The  lady  Ozema  shall  be  my  care ;  and, 
Count  of  Llera,  thou  shalt  know  my  final  decision  to-mor 
row,  concerning  Dona  Mercedes  and  thyself.'"' 

As  this  was  said  with  a  royal,  as  well  as  with  a  womanly, 
dignity,  no  one  presumed  to  demur,  but,  making  the  cus 
tomary  reverences,  Columbus  and  our  hero  left  the  presence. 
It  was  late  before  the  queen  quitted  Ozema,  but  what  passed 
in  this  interview  will  better  appear  in  the  scenes  that  are 
still  to  be  given. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

"  When  sinking  low  the  sufferer  wan 
Beholds  no  arm  outstretch'd  to  save, 
Fair,  as  the  bosom  of  the  swan 
That  rises  graceful  o'er  the  wave, 
I  Ve  seen  your  breast  with  pity  heave, 
And  therefore  Jove  you,  sweet  Genevieve !" 

COLERIDGE. 

WHEN  Isabella  found  herself  alone  with  Ozema  and  Mer 
cedes  (for  she  chose  that  the  last  should  be  present),  she 
entered  on  the  subject  of  the  marriage  with  the  tenderness 
of  a  sensitive  and  delicate  mind,  but  with  a  sincerity  that 
rendered  further  error  impossible.  The  result  showed  how 
naturally  and  cruelly  the  young  Indian  beauty  had  deceived 
herself.  Ardent,  confiding,  and  accustomed  to  be  considered 
the  object  of  general  admiration  among  her  own  people, 
Ozema  had  fancied  that  her  own  inclinations  had  been 
fully  answered  by  the  young  man.  From  the  first  moment 
they  met,  with  the  instinctive  quickness  of  a  woman,  she 
perceived  that  she  was  admired,  and,  as  she  gave  way  to 
the  excess  of  her  own  feelings,  it  was  almost  a  necessary 
consequence  of  the  communications  she  held  with  Luis,  that 
she  should  think  they  were  reciprocated.  The  very  want 
39  * 


462  MERCEDES    O*    CASTILE. 

of  language  in  words,  by  compelling  a  substitution  of  one 
in  looks  and  acts,  contributed  to  the  mistake ;  and,  it  will 
be  remembered,  that,  if  Luis's  constancy  did  not  actually 
waver,  k  had  been  sorely  tried.  The  false  signification  she 
attached  to  the  word  "  Mercedes,"  largely  aided  in  the  de 
lusion,  and  it  was  completed  by  the  manly  tenderness  and 
care  with  which  our  hero  treated  her  on  all  occasions. 
Even  the  rigid  decorum  that  Luis  invariably  observed,  and 
the  severe  personal  respect  which  he  maintained  towards 
his  charge,  had  their  effect  on  her  feelings ;  for,  wild  and 
unsophisticated  as  had  been  her  training,  the  deep  and  un 
erring  instinct  of  the  feeble,  told  her  the  nature  of  the  power 
she  was  wielding  over  the  strong. 

Then  came  the  efforts  to  give  her  some  ideas  of  religion, 
and  the  deep  and  lamentable  mistakes  which,  imperfectly 
explained,  and  worse  understood  subtleties,  left  on  her  plastic 
mind.  Ozema  believed  that  the  Spaniards  worshipped  the 
cross.  She  saw  it  put  foremost  in  all  public  ceremonies, 
knelt  to,  and  apparently  appealed  to,  on  every  occasion  that 
called  for  an  engagement  more  solemn  than  usual.  When 
ever  a  knight  made  a  vow,  he  kissed  the  cross  of  his  sword- 
hilt.  The  mariners  regarded  it  with  reverence,  and  even 
the  admiral  had  caused  one  to  be  erected  as  a  sign  of  his 
right  to  the  territory  that  had  been  ceded  to  him  by  Gua- 
canagari.  In  a  word,  to  her  uninstructed  imagination,  it 
seemed  as  if  the  cross  were  used  as  a  pledge  for  the  fidelity 
of  all  engagements.  Often  had  she  beheld  and  admired 
the  beautiful  emblem  worn  by  our  hero ;  and,  as  the  habits 
of  her  own  people  required  the  exchange  of  pledges  of  value, 
as  a  proof  of  wedlock,  she  fancied,  when  she  received  this 
much-valued  jewel,  that  she  received  the  sign  that  our  hero 
took  her  for  a  wife,  at  a  moment  when  death  was  about  to 
part  them  for  ever.  Further  than  this,  her  simplicity  and 
affections  did  not  induce  her  to  reason,  or  to  believe. 

It  was  an  hour  before  Isabella  elicited  all  these  facts  and 
feelings  from  Ozema,  though  the  latter  clearly  wished  to 
conceal  nothing ;  in  truth,  had  nothing  to  conceal.  The 
painful  part  of  the  duty  remained  to  be  discharged.  It  was 
to  undeceive  the  confiding  girl,  and  to  teach  her  the  hard 
lesson  of  bitterness  that  followed.  This  was  done,  how 
ever,  and  the  queen,  believing  it  best  to  remove  all  delusion 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  463 

on  the  subject,  finally  succeeded  in  causing  her  to  under 
stand  that,  before  the  count  had  ever  seen  herself,  his  affec 
tions  were  given  to  Mercedes,  who  was,  in  truth,  his  be 
trothed  wife.  Nothing  could  have  been  gentler,  or  more 
femininely  tender,  than  the  manner  in  which  the  queen 
made  her  communication;  but  the  blow  struck  home,  and 
Isabella,  herself,  trembled  at  the  consequences  of  her  own 
act.  Never  before  had  she  witnessed  the  outbreaking  of 
feeling  in  a  mind  so  entirely  unsophisticated,  and  the  images 
of  what  she  then  saw,  haunted  her  troubled  slumbers  for 
many  succeeding  nights. 

As  for  Columbus  and  our  hero,  they  were  left  mainly  in 
the  dark,  as  to  what  had  occurred,  for  the  following  week. 
It  is  true,  Luis  received  a  kind  and  encouraging  note  from 
his  aunt,  the  succeeding  day,  and  a  page  of  Mercedes's 
silently  placed  in  his  hand  the  cross  that  he  had  so  long 
worn ;  but,  beyond  this,  he  was  left  to  his  own  conjectures. 
The  moment  for  explanation,  however,  arrived,  and  the 
young  man  received  a  summons  to  the  apartment  of  the 
marchioness. 

Luis  did  not,  as  he  expected,  meet  his  aunt  on  reaching 
the  saloon,  which  he  found  empty.  Questioning  the  page 
who  had  been  his  usher,  he  was  desired  to  wait  for  the  ap 
pearance  of  some  one  to  receive  him.  Patience  was  not  a 
conspicuous  virtue  in  our  hero's  character,  and  he  excited 
himself  by  pacing  the  room,  for  near  half  an  hour,  ere  he 
discovered  a  single  sign  that  his  visit  was  remembered. 
Just  as  he  was  about  to  summon  an  attendant,  however, 
again  to  announce  his  presence,  a  door  was  slowly  opened, 
and  Mercedes  stood  before  him. 

The  first  glance  that  the  young  man  cast  upon  his  be 
trothed,  told  him  that  she  was  suffering  under  deep  mental 
anxiety.  The  hand  which  he  eagerly  raised  to  Iiis  lips 
trembled,  and  the  colour  came  and  went  on  her  cheeks,  in 
a  way  to  show  that  she  was  nearly  overcome.  Still  she 
rejected  the  glass  of  water  that  he  offered,  putting  it  aside 
with  a  faint  smile,  and  motioning  her  lover  to  take  a  chair, 
while  she  calmly  placed  herself  on  a  tabouret — one  of  the 
humble  seats  she  was  accustomed  tc  occupy  in  the  presence 
of  the  queen. 

"  I  have  asked  for  this  interview,  Don  Luis,"  Mercedes 


464 


MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 


commenced,  as  soon  as  she  had  given  herself  time  to  com 
mand  her  feelings,  "  in  order  that  there  may  no  longer  be 
any  reasons  for  mistaking  our  feelings  and  wishes.  You 
have  been  suspected  of  having  married  the  Lady  Ozema ; 
and  there  was  a  moment  when  you  stood  on  the  verge  of 
destruction,  through  the  displeasure  of  Dona  Isabella." 

"  But,  blessed  Mercedes,  you  never  imputed  to  me  this 
act  of  deception  and  unfaithfulness?" 

"  I  told  you  truth,  Senor — for  that  I  knew  you  too  well. 
I  felt  certain  that,  whenever  Luis  de  Bobadilla  had  made 
Mp  his  mind  to  the  commission  of  such  a  step,  he  would  also 
have  the  manliness  and  courage  to  avow  it.  /  never,  for 
an  instant,  believed  that  you  had  wedded  the  princess." 

"  Why,  then,  those  cold  and  averted  looks  ? — eyes  thai 
sought  the  floor,  rather  than  the  meeting  of  glances  that 
love  delights  in ;  and  a  manner  which,  if  it  hath  not 
absolutely  displayed  aversion,  hath  at  least  manifested  a 
reserve  and  distance  that  I  had  never  expected  to  witness 
from  thee  to  me  ?" 

Mercedes's  colour  changed,  and  she  made  no  answer  for 
a  minute,  during  which  little  interval  she  had  doubts  of  her 
ability  to  carry  out  her  own  purpose.  Rallying  her  cou 
rage,  however,  the  discourse  was  continued  in  the  same 
manner  as  before. 

"  Hear  me,  Don  Luis,"  she  resumed,  "  for  my  history 
will  not  be  long.  When  you  left  Spain,  at  my  suggestion, 
to  enter  on  this  great  voyage,  you  loved  me — of  that  grate 
ful  recollection  no  earthly  power  can  deprive  me !  Yes, 
you  then  loved  me,  and  me  only.  We  parted,  with  our 
troth  plighted  to  each  other ;  and  not  a  day  went  by,  during 
your  absence,  that  I  did  not  pass  hours  on  my  knees,  be 
seeching  heaven  in  behalf  of  the  admiral  and  his  followers." 

"  Beloved  Mercedes !  it  is  not  surprising  that  success 
crowned  our  efforts ;  such  an  intercessor  could  not  fail  to 
be  heard !" 

"  I  entreat  you,  sir,  to  hear  me.  Until  the  eventful  day 
which  brought  the  tidings  of  your  return,  no  Spanish  wife 
could  have  felt  more  concern  for  him  on  whom  she  had 
placed  all  her  hopes,  than  I  felt  for  you.  To  me,  the  future 
was  bright  and  filled  with  hope,  if  the  present  was  loaded 
with  fear  and  doubt.  The  messenger  who  reached  the 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  465 

court,  first  opened  my  eyes  to  the  sad  realities  of  the  world, 
and  taught  me  the  hard  lesson  the  young  are  ever  slow 
to  learn— that  of  disappointment.  It  was  then  I  first  heard 
of  Ozema— of  your  admiration  of  her  beauty— your  readi 
ness  to  sacrifice  your  life  in  her  behalf!" 

"Holy  Luke!  Did  that  vagabond,  Sancho,  dare  to 
wound  thy  ear,  Mercedes,  with  any  insinuations  that  touched 
the  strength  or  the  constancy  of  my  love  for  thee !" 

"  He.  related  nought  but  the  truth,  Luis,  and  blame  him 
not.  I  was  prepared  for  some  calamity  by  his  report,  and 
bless  God  that  it  came  on  me  by  such  slow  degrees,  and 
with  the  means  of  preparation  to  bear  it.  When  I  beheld 
Ozema,  I  no  longer  wondered  at  thy  change  of  feeling,— 
scarce  blamed  it.  Her  beauty,  I  do  think,  thou  might'st 
have  withstood ;  but  her  unfeigned  devotion  to  thyself,  her 
innocence,  her  winning  simplicity,  and  her  modest  joyous- 
ness  and  nature,  are  sufficient  to  win  a  lover  from  any 
Spanish  maiden — " 
"  Mercedes !" 

"  Nay,  Luis,  I  have  told  thee,  that  I  blame  thee  not.  It 
is  better  that  the  blow  come  now,  than  later,  when  I  should 
not  be  able  to  bear  it.  There  is  something  which  tells  me 
that,  as  a  wife,  I  should  sink  beneath  the  weight  of  blighted 
affections ;  but,  now,  there  are  open  to  me  the  convent  and 
the  espousals  of  the  Son  of  God.  Do  not  interrupt  me, 
Luis,"  she  added,  smiling  sweetly,  but  with  an  effort  that 
denoted  how  difficult  it  was  to  seem  easy.  "I  have  to 
struggle  severely  to  speak  at  all,  and  to  an  argument  I  am 
altogether  unequal.  Thou  hast  not  been  able  to  control  thy 
affections;  and  to  the  strange  novelties  that  have  surrounded 
Ozema,  as  well  as  to  her  winning  ingenuousness,  I  owe  my 
loss,  and  she  oweth  her  gain.  It  is  the  will  of  Heaven, 
and  I  strive  to  think  it  is  to  my  everlasting  advantage. 
Had  I  really  wedded  thee,  the  tenderness  that  is  even  now 
swelling  in  my  heart — I  wish  not  to  conceal  it— might  have 
grown  to  such  a  strength  as  to  supplant  the  love  I  owe  to 
God ;  it  is,  therefore,  doubtless,  better  as  it  is.  If  happi 
ness  on  earth  is  not  to  be  my  lot,  I  shall  secure  happiness 
hereafter.  Nay,  all  happiness  here  will  not  be  lost ;  I  can 
stili  pray  for  thee,  as  well  as  for  myself— and  thou  and 


466  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

Ozema,  of  all  earthly  beings,  will  ever  be  uppermost  in  my 
thoughts." 

"  This  is  so  wonderful,  Mercedes  —  so  cruel — so  unrea 
sonable  and  so  unjust,  that  I  cannot  credit  my  ears !" 

"  I  have  said  that  I  blame  thee  not.  The  beauty  and 
frankness  of  Ozema  are  more  than  sufficient  to  justify  thee, 
for  men  yield  to  the  senses,  rather  than  to  the  heart,  in 
bestowing  their  love.  Then — "  Mercedes  blushed  crimson 
as  she  continued — "  a  Haytian  maid  may  innocently  use  a 
power,  that  it  would  ill  become  a  Christian  damsel  to 
employ.  And,  now,  we  will  come  to  facts  that  press  for  a 
decision.  Ozema  hath  been  ill — is  still  ill — dangerously  so 
as  her  Highness  and  my  guardian  believe — even  as  the 
physicians  say, — but  it  is  in  thy  power,  Luis,  to  raise  her, 
as  it  might  be,  from  the  grave.  See  her — say  but  the  word 
that  will  confer  happiness — tell  her,  if  thou  hast  not  yet 
wedded  her  after  the  manner  of  Spain,  that  thou  wilt — nay, 
let  one  of  the  Holy  Priests,  who  are  in  constant  attendance 
on  her,  to  prepare  the  way  for  baptism,  perform  the  cere 
mony  this  very  morning,  and  we  shall  presently  see  the 
princess,  again,  the  smiling,  radiant,  joyous  creature  she 
was,  when  thou  first  placed  her  in  our  care." 

"And  this  thou  say'st  to  me,  Mercedes,  calmly  and 
deliberately,  as  if  thy  words  express  thy  very  wishes  and 
feelings !" 

"  Calmly  I  may  seem  to  say  it,  Luis,"  answered  our 
heroine  in  a  smothered  tone,  "  and  deliberately  I  do  say  it. 
Marry  me,  loving  another  better,  thou  canst  not ;  and  why 
not  then  follow  whither  thy  heart  leadeth.  The  dowry  of 
the  princess  shall  not  be  small,  for  the  convent  recluse  hath 
little  need  of  gold,  and  none  of  lands." 

Luis  gazed  earnestly  at  the  enthusiastic  girl,  who  in  his 
eyes  never  appeared  more  lovely ;  then  rising  he  paced  the 
room  for  three  or  four  minutes  like  one  who  wished  to  keep 
down  mental  agony  by  physical  action.  When  he  had  ob 
tained  a  proper  command  of  himse'.T,  he  returned  to  his 
seat,  and  taking  the  unresisting  hand  of  Mercedes,  he  re 
plied  to  her  extraordinary  proposal. 

"  Watching  over  the  sick  couch  of  thy  friend,  and  too 
much  brooding  on  this  subject,  love,  hath  impaired  thy 
judgment.  Ozema  hath  no  hold  on  my  heart,  in  the  way 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  467 

thou  fanciest  —  never  had,  beyond  a  passing  and  truant 
inclination" — 

"  Ah  !  Luis,  those  '  passing  and  truant  inclinations.' — 
None  such,"  pressing  both  her  hands  on  her  own  heart — 
"  have  ever  found  a  place  here !" 

"  Thy  education  and  mine,  Mercedes — thy  habits  and 
mine — nay,  thy  nature  and  the  ruder  elements  of  mine,  are 
not,  cannot  be  the  same.  Were  they  so,  I  should  not  wor 
ship  thee  as  I  now  do.  But  didst  thou  not  exist,  the  cer 
tainty  that  I  should  wed  Ozema,  would  not  give  me  happi 
ness — but  thou  existing,  and  beloved  as  thou  art,  it  would 
entail  on  me  a  misery  that  even  my  buoyant  nature  could 
not  endure.  In  no  case  can  I  ever  be  the  husband  of  the 
Indian." 

Although  a  gleam  of  happiness  illumined  the  face  of 
Mercedes  for  a  moment,  her  high  principles  and  pure  inten 
tions  soon  suppressed  the  momentary  arid  unbidden  triumph, 
and,  even  with  a  reproving  manner,  she  made  her  answer. 

"  Is  this  just  to  Ozema  1 — Hath  not  her  simplicity  been 
deluded  by  those  *  passing  and  truant  inclinations,'  and 
doth  not  honour  require  that  thy  acts  now  redeem  the 
pledges  that  have  been  given  by,  at  least,  thy  manner?" 

"  Mercedes — beloved  girl — hearken  to  me.  Thou  must 
know,  that,  with  all  my  levities  and  backslidings,  J  am  no 
coxcomb.  Never  hath  my  manner  said  aught  that  the 
heart  did  not  confirm,  and  never  hath  the  heart  been  drawn 
towards  any  but  thee.  In  this,  is  the  great  distinction  that 
I  make  between  thee  and  all  others  of  thy  sex.  Ozema's 
is  not  the  only  form,  her's  are  not  the  only  charms  that 
may  have  caught  a  truant  glance  from  my  eyes,  or  extorted 
some  unmeaning  and  bootless  admiration,  but  thou,  love, 
art  enshrined  here,  and  seemest  already  a  part  of  myself. 
Didst  thou  know  how  often  thy  image  hath  proved  a  monitor 
stronger  than  conscience ;  on  how  many  occasions  the  re 
membrance  of  thy  virtues  and  thy  affections  hath  prevailed, 
when  even  duty,  and  religion,  and  early  lessons  would 
have  been  forgotten,  thou  would'st  understand  the  difference 
between  the  love  I  bear  thee,  and  what  thou  hast  so  taunt 
ingly  repeated  as  truant  and  passing  inclinations." 

"Luis,  I  ought  not  to  listen  to  these  alluring  words, 
which  come  from  a  goodness  of  heart  that  would  spare  me 


4(58  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

present  pain,  only  to  make  my  misery  in  (he  end  the  deeper 
[f  thou  hast  never  felt  otherwise,  why  was  the  cross  that  1 
gave  thee  at  parting,  bestowed  on  another  1" 

"  Mercedes,  thou  know'st  not  the  fearful  circumstances 
under  which  I  parted  with  that  cross.  Death  was  staring 
us  in  the  face,  and  I  gave  it  as  a  symbol  that  might  aid  a 
heathen  soul  in  its  extremity.  That  the  gift,  or  rather  that 
the  thing  I  lent,  was  mistaken  for  a  pledge  of  matrimony, 
is  an  unhappy  misconception,  that  your  own  knowledge  of 
Christian  usages  will  tell  you  I  could  not  foresee;  other 
wise  I  might  now  claim  thee  for  my  wife,  in  consequence 
of  having  first  bestowed  it  on  me." 

"  Ah !  Luis ;  when  I  gave  thee  that  cross,  I  did  wish  to 
be  understood  as  plighting  my  faith  to  thee  for  ever !" 

"  And  when  thou  didst  send  it  back  to  me,  now  within 
the  week,  how  was  it  thy  wish  to  be  understood  ?" 

"  I  sent  it  to  thee,  Luis,  in  a  moment  of  reviving  hope, 
and  by  the  order  of  the  queen.  Her  Highness  is  now 
firmly  thy  friend,  and  would  fain  see  us  united,  but  for  the 
melancholy  condition  of  Ozema,  to  whom  all  has  been  ex 
plained — all,  as  I  fear,  except  the  real  state  of  thy  feelings 
towards  us  both." 

"  Cruel  girl ! — Am  I  then  never  to  be  believed — never 
again  to  be  happy  ?  I  swear  to  thee,  dearest  Mercedes, 
that  thou  alone  hast  my  whole  heart  —  that  with  thee,  I 
could  be  contented  in  a  hovel,  and  that  without  thee,  I 
should  be  miserable  on  a  throne.  Thou  wilt  believe  this, 
when  thou  see'st  me  a  wretch,  wandering  the  earth,  reckless 
alike  of  hopes  and  objects,  perhaps  of  character,  because 
thou  alone  canst  make  me,  and  keep  me  the  man  I  ought  to 
be.  Bethink  thee,  Mercedes,  of  the  influence  thou  canst 
have — must  have — uilt  have  on  one  of  my  temperament 
and  passions.  I  have  long  looked  upon  thee  as  my  guar 
dian  angel,  one  that  can  mould  me  to  thy  will,  and  rule  me 
when  all  others  fail.  With  thee — the  impatience  produced 
by  thy  doubts  excepted — am  I  not  ever  tractable  and  gentle  ? 
Hath  Dona  Beatriz  ever  exercised  a  tithe  of  thy  power  over 
me,  and  hast  thou  ever  failed  to  tame  even  my  wildest  and 
rashest  humours?" 

"Luis — Luis — no  one  that  knew  it,  ever  doubted  of  thy 
Ueart !"  Mercedes  paused,  and  the  working  of  her  counte- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  469 

nance  proved  that  the  earnest  sincerity  of  her  lover  had 
already  shaken  her  doubts  of  his  constancy.  Still  her 
mind  reverted  to  the  scenes  of  the  voyage,  and  her  imagi 
nation  pourtrayed  the  couch  of  the  stricken  Ozema.  After 
a  minute's  delay,  she  proceeded  in  a  low,  humbled  tone — 
"  I  will  not  deny  that  it  is  soothing  to  my  heart  to  hear 
this  language,  to  which  I  fear  I  listen  too  readily,"  she  said. 
"  Still  I  find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  thou  canst  ever  forget 
one  who  hath  even  braved  the  chances  of  death,  in  order 
to  shelter  thy  body  from  the  arrows  of  thy  foes !" 

"  Believe  not  this,  beloved  girl ;  thou  would'st  have  done 
that  thyself,  in  Ozema's  place,  and  so  I  shall  ever  consider 
it." 

"  I  should  have  the  wish,  Luis,"  Mercedes  continued,  her 
eyes  suffused  with  tears,  ««  but  I  might  not  have  the  power  !" 

"  Thou  would'st — thou  would'st — I  know  thee  too  well 
to  doubt  it." 

"  I  could  envy  Ozema  the  occasion,  were  it  not  sinful ! 
I  fear  thou  wilt  think  of  this,  when  thy  mind  shall  have 
tired  with  attractions  that  have  lost  their  novelty." 

"  Thou  would'st  not  only  have  done  it,  but  thou  would'st 
have  done  it  far  better.  Ozema,  moreover,  was  exposed  in 
her  own  quarrel,  whilst  thou  would'st  have  exposed  thyself 
in  mine." 

Mercedes  again  paused,  and  appeared  to  muse  deeply. 
Her  eyes  had  brightened  under  the  soothing  asseverations 
of  her  lover,  and,  spite  of  the  generous  self-devotion  with 
which  she  had  determined  to  sacrifice  all  her  own  hopes  to 
what  she  had  imagined  would  make  her  lover  happy,  the 
seductive  influence  of  requited  affection  was  fast  resuming 
its  power. 

"  Come  with  me,  then,  Luis,  and  behold  Ozema,"  she  at 
length  continued.  "  When  thou  see'st  her,  in  her  present 
state,  thou  wilt  better  understand  thine  own  intentions.  I 
ought  not  to  have  suffered  thee  thus  to  revive  thy  ancient 
feelings  in  a  private  interview,  Ozema  not  being  present ; 
it  is  like  forming  a  judgment  on  the  hearing  of  only  one 
side.  And,  Luis," — her  heightened  colour,  the  effect  of 
feeling,  not  of  shame,  rendered  the  girl  surpassingly  beau 
tiful — "  and,  Luis,  if  thou  should'st  find  reason  to  change 
thy  language  after  visiting  the  princess,  however  hard  I 
40 


470  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

may  find  it  to  be  borne,  thou  wilt  be  certain  of  my  forgive* 
ness  for  all  that  hath  passed,  and  of  my  prayers — " 

Sobs  interrupted  Mercedes,  and  she  stopped  an  instant  to 
wipe  away  her  tears,  rejecting  Luis's  attempt  to  fold  her  in 
his  arms,  in  order  to  console  her,  with  a  sensitive  jealousy 
of  the  result ;  a  feeling,  however,  in  which  delicacy  had 
more  weight  than  resentment.  When  she  had  dried  her 
eyes,  and  otherwise  removed  the  traces  of  her  agitation, 
she  led  the  way  to  the  apartment  of  Ozema,  where  the  pre 
sence  of  the  young  man  was  expected. 

Luis  started  on  entering  the  room  ;  a  little  on  perceiving 
that  the  queen  and  the  admiral  were  present,  and  more  at 
observing  the  inroads  that  disappointment  had  made  on  the 
appearance  of  Ozema.  The  colour  of  the  latter  was  gone, 
leaving  a  deadly  paleness  in  its  place ;  her  eyes  possessed  a 
brightness  that  seemed  supernatural,  and  yet  her  weakness 
was  so  evident  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  support  her,  in 
a  half- recumbent  posture,  on  pillows.  An  exclamation  of 
unfeigned  delight  escaped  her  when  she  beheld  our  hero, 
and  then  she  covered  her  face  with  both  her  hands,  in  child 
ish  confusion,  as  if  ashamed  at  betraying  the  pleasure  she 
felt.  Luis  behaved  with  manly  propriety,  for,  though  his 
conscience  did  not  altogether  escape  a  few  twinges,  at  the 
recollection  of  the  hours  he  had  wasted  in  Ozema's  society, 
and  at  the  manner  in  which  he  had  momentarily  submitted 
to  the  influence  of  her  beauty  and  seductive  simplicity,  on 
the  whole  he  stood  selC-acquitted  of  any  thing  that  might 
fairly  be  urged  as  a  fault,  and  most  of  all,  of  any  thought 
of  being  unfaithful  to  his  first  love,  or  of  any  design  to  de 
ceive.  He  took  the  hand  of  the  young  Indian  respectfully, 
and  he  kissed  it  with  an  openness  and  warmth  that  denoted 
brotherly  tenderness  and  regard,  rather  than  passion,  or  the 
emotion  of  a  lover.  Mercedes  did  not  dare  to  watch  his 
movements,  but  she  observed  the  approving  glance  that  the 
queen  threw  at  her  guardian,  when  he  had  approached  the 
couch  on  which  Ozema  lay.  This  glance  she  interpreted 
into  a  sign  that  the  count  had  acquitted  himself  in  a  man 
ner  favourable  to  her  own  interests. 

"  Thou  findest  the  lady  Ozema  weak  and  changed,"  ob 
served  the  queen,  who  alone  would  presume  to  break  a 
silence  that  was  already  awkward.  "  We  have  been  en- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  471 

deavouring  to  enlighten  her  simple  mind  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  and  she  hath,  at  length,  consented  to  receive  the 
holy  sacrament  of  baptism.  The  Lord  Archbishop  is  even 
now  preparing  for  the  ceremony  in  my  oratory,  and  we 
have  the  blessed  prospect  of  rescuing  this  one  precious  soul 
from  perdition." 

"  Your  Highness  hath  ever  the  good  of  all  your  people 
at  heart,"  said  Luis,  bowing  low  to  conceal  the  tears  that 
the  condition  of  Ozema  had  drawn  from  his  eyes.  "  I  fear 
this  climate  of  ours  ill  agrees  with  the  poor  Haytians,  gene 
rally,  for  I  hear  that  the  sick  among  them,  at  Seville  and 
Palos,  offer  but  little  hope  of  recovery." 

"  Is  this  so,  Don  Christopher  ?" 

"  Senora,  I  believe  it  is  only  too  true.  Care  hath  been 
had,  however,  to  their  souls,  as  well  as  to  their  bodies,  and 
Ozema  is  the  last  of  her  people,  now  in  Spain,  to  receive 
the  holy  rite  of  Christian  baptism." 

"  Senora,"  said  the  Marchioness,  coming  from  the  couch 
with  surprise  and  concern  in  her  countenance,  "  I  fear  our 
hopes  are  to  be  defeated  after  all !  The  lady  Ozema  hath 
just  whispered  me,  that  Luis  and  Mercedes  must  first  be 
married  in  her  presence,  ere  she  will  consent  to  be  admitted 
within  the  pale  of  the  church  herself." 

"  This  doth  not  denote  the  right  spirit,  Beatriz — and,  yet, 
what  can  be  done  with  a  mind  so  little  illuminated  with  the 
light  from  above.  'T  is  merely  a  passing  caprice,  and  will 
be  forgotten  when  the  archbishop  shall  be  ready." 

"  I  think  not,  Senora.  Never  have  I  seen  her  so  decided 
and  clear.  In  common,  we  find  her  gentle  and  tractable, 
but  this  hath  she  thrice  said,  in  a  way  to  cause  the  belief 
of  her  perfect  seriousness." 

Isabella  now  advanced  to  the  couch,  and  spoke  long  and 
soothingly  to  the  invalid.  In  the  meantime,  the  admiral 
conversed  with  the  Marchioness,  and  Luis  again  approached 
our  heroine.  The  evidences  of  emotion  were  plain  in  both, 
and  Mercedes  scarce  breathed,  not  knowing  what  to  expect. 
But  a  few  low  words  soon  brought  an  assurance  that  could 
not  fail  to  bring  happiness,  spite  of  her  generous  efforts  to 
feel  for  Ozema — that  the  heart  of  our  hero  was  all  her 
own.  From  this  moment  Mercedes  dismissed  every  doubt, 
and  she  regarded  Luis  as  had  so  long  been  her  wont. 


472  MEKCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

As  is  usual  in  the  presence  of  royalty,  the  conversation 
was  carried  on  in  a  low  tone ;  and  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
elapsed  before  a  page  announced  that  the  oratory,  or  little 
chapel,  was  ready,  opening  a  door  that  communicated  di 
rectly  with  it,  as  he  entered. 

"  This  wilful  girl  persisteth,  daughter-marchioness,"  said 
the  queen,  advancing  from  the  side  of  the  couch,  "  and  I 
know  not  what   to   answer.     It  is  cruel  to  deny  her  the 
offered  means  of  grace,  and  yet  it  is  a  sudden  and  un 
seemly  request  to  make  of  thy  nephew  and  thy  ward !" 

"  As  for  the  first,  dearest  Senora,  never  distrust  his  for 
giveness  ;  though  I  much  doubt  the  possibility  of  prevailing 
on  Mercedes.  Her  very  nature  is  made  up  of  religion  and 
female  decorum." 

"  It  is,  indeed,  scarce  right  to  think  of  it.  A  Christian 
maiden  should  have  time  to  prepare  her  spirit  for  the  holy 
sacrament  of  marriage,  by  prayer." 

"  And  yet,  Senora,  many  wed  without  it !  The  time 
hath  been  when  Don  Ferdinand  of  Aragon  and  Dona  Isa 
bella  might  not  have  hesitated  for  such  a  purpose." 

"  That  time  never  was,  Beatriz.  Thou  hast  a  habit  of 
making  me  look  back  to  our  days  of  trial  and  youth,  when 
ever  thou  would'st  urge  on  me  some  favourite  but  ill-con 
sidered  wish  of  thine  own.  Dost  really  think  thy  ward 
would  overlook  the  want  of  preparation  and  time?" 

"  I  know  not  what  she  might  feel  disposed  to  overlook, 
Senora  ;  but  I  do  know  that  if  there  be  one  woman  in  Spain 
who  is  at  all  times  ready  in  spirit,  for  the  most  sacred  rites 
of  the  church,  it  is  your  Highness ;  and,  if  there  be  an 
other,  it  is  my  ward." 

"  Go  to — go  to — good  Beatriz  ;  flattery  sitteth  ill  on  thee. 
None  are  always  ready,  and  all  have  an  unceasing  need 
for  watchfulness.  Bid  Dona  Mercedes  follow  to  my  closet ; 
I  will  converse  with  her  on  this  subject.  At  least,  there 
shall  be  no  unfeminine  and  unseemly  surprise." 

So  saying,  the  queen  withdrew.  She  had  hardly  reached 
her  closet,  before  our  heroine  entered,  with  a  doubtful  and 
timid  step.  As  soon  as  her  eyes  met  those  of  her  sove 
reign,  Mercedes  burst  into  tears,  and  falling  on  her  knees 
she  again  buried  her  face  in  the  robe  of  Dona  Isabella. 
This  outbreak  of  feeling  was  soon  subdued,  however, 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  473 

and  then  the  girl  stood  erect,  waiting  her  sovereign's  plea 
sure. 

"  Daughter,"  commenced  the  queen,  "  I  trust  there  is  nu 
longer  any  misapprehension  between  thee  and  the  Conde  de 
Llera.  Thou  knowest  the  views  of  thy  guardian  and  my 
self,  and  mayest,  in  a  matter  like  this,  with  safety  defer  to 
our  cooler  heads  and  greater  experience.  Don  Luis  loveth 
thee,  and  hath  never  loved  the  princess,  though  it  would 
not  be  out  of  character,  did  an  impetuous  young  man,  who 
hath  been  much  exposed  to  the  temptation,  betray  some 
transient  and  passing  feeling  towards  one  of  so  much  na 
ture  and  beauty." 

"  Luis  hath  admitted  all,  Senora :  inconstant  he  hath 
never  been,  though  he  may  have  had  his  weaknesses." 

"  'T  is  a  hard  lesson  to  learn,  child,  even  m  this  stage 
of  thy  life,"  said  the  queen,  gravely  ;  "  but  it  would  have 
been  harder  were  it  deterred  until  the  nearer  tenderness  of 
a  wife  had  superseded  the  impulses  of  the  girl.  Thou  hast 
heard  the  opinions  of  the  learned  ;  there  is  little  hope  that 
the  princess  Ozema  can  long  survive." 

"Ah!  Senora, 'tis  a  cruel  fate!  To  die  among  stran 
gers,  in  the  flower  of  her  beauty,  and  with  a  heart  crusted 
by  the  weight  of  unrequited  love !" 

"And  yet,  Mercedes,  if  Heaven  open  on  her  awaking 
eyes,  when  the  last  earthly  scene  is  over,  the  transition  will 
be  most  blessed ;  and  they  who  mourn  her  loss,  would  do 
wiser  to  rejoice.  One  so  youthful,  and  so  innocent ;  whose 
pure  mind  hath  been  laid  bare  to  us,  as  it  might  be,  and 
which  we  have  found  wanting  in  nothing  beside  the  fruits 
of  a  pious  instruction,  can  have  little  to  apprehend  on  the 
score  of  personal  errors.  All  that  is  required  for  such  a 
being,  is  to  place  her  within  the  covenant  of  God's  grace, 
by  obtaining  the  rite  of  baptism,  and  there  is  not  a  bishop 
of  the.  church  that  could  depart  with  brighter  hopes  for  the 
future." 

"  That  holy  office  is  my  lord  archbishop  about  to  ad- 
miniiter,  as  I  hear,  Senora." 

"  That  somewhat  dependeth  on  thee,  daughter.  Listen, 
and  be  not  hasty  in  thy  decision,  which  may  touch  on  the 
security  of  a  human  soul." 

The  queen  now  related  to  Mercedes  the  romantic  request 
40* 


474  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

of  Ozema,  placing  it  before  her  listener  in  terms  so  winning 
and  gentle,  that  it  produced  less  surprise  and  alarm  than 
she  herself  had  anticipated. 

"  Dona  Beatriz  hath  a  proposal  that  may,  at  first,  appear 
plausible,  but  which  reflection  will  not  sanction.  Her  de 
sign  was  to  cause  the  count  actually  to  wed  Ozema" — Mer 
cedes  started,  and  turned  pale — "in  order  that  the  last 
hours  of  the  young  stranger  might  be  soothed  by  the  con 
sciousness  of  being  the  wife  of  the  man  she  idolized  ;  but 
I  have  found  serious  objections  to  the  scheme.  What  is 
thy  opinion,  daughter?" 

"Senora,  could  I  believe  —  as  lately  I  did,  but  now  do 
not  —  that  Luis  had  such  a  preference  for  the  princess,  as 
might  lead  him,  in  the  end,  to  the  happiness  of  that  mutual 
affection  without  which  wedlock  must  be  a  curse  instead  of 
a  blessing,  I  would  be  the  last  to  object ;  nay,  I  think  I 
could  even  beg  the  boon  of  your  Highness  on  my  knees, 
for  she  who  truly  loveth  can  only  seek  the  felicity  of  its 
object.  But,  I  am  assured  the  count  hath  not  the  affection 
for  the  lady  Ozema  that  is  necessary  to  this  end ;  and 
would  it  not  be  profane,  Senora,  to  receive  the  church's 
sacraments  under  vows  that  the  heart  not  only  does  not 
answer  to,  hut  against  which  it  is  actually  struggling  ?" 

"  Excellent  girl !  These  are  precisely  my  own  views, 
and  in  this  manner  have  I  answered  the  marchioness.  The 
rites  of  the  church  may  not  be  trifled  with,  and  we  are 
bound  to  submit  to  sorrows  that  may  be  inflicted,  after  all, 
for  our  eternal  good ;  though  it  be  harder  to  bear  those  of 
others  than  to  bear  our  own.  It  remaineth  only  to  decide 
on  this  whim  of  Ozema's,  and  to  say  if  thou  wilt  now  be 
married,  in  order  that  she  may  be  baptized." 

Notwithstanding  the  devotedness  of  feeling  with  which 
our  heroine  loved  Luis,  it  required  a  strong  struggle  with 
her  habits  and  her  sense  of  propriety  to  take  this  great  step 
so  suddenly,  and  with  so  little  preparation.  The  wishes 
of  the  queen,  however,  prevailed ;  for  Isabella  felt  a  deep 
responsibility  on  her  own  soul,  in  letting  the  stranger  de 
part  without  being  brought  within  the  pale  of  the  church. 
When  Mercedes  consented,  she  dispatched  a  messenger  to 
the  marchioness,  and  then  she  and  her  companion  both 
knelt,  and  passed  near  an  hour  together,  in  the  spiritual 


MERCEDES    OF   CASTILE.  475 

exercises  that  were  usual  to  the  occasion.  In  this  mood, 
did  these  two  pure-minded  females,  without  a  thought 
to  the  vanities  of  the  toilet,  but  with  every  attention  to  the 
mental  preparations  of  which  the  case  admitted,  present 
themselves  at  the  door  of  the  royal  chapel,  through  which 
Ozerna  had  just  heen  carried,  still  stretched  on  her  couch. 
The  marchioness  had  caused  a  white  veil  to  be  thrown  over 
the  head  of  Mercedes,  and  a  few  proper  but  slight  altera 
tions  had  been  made  in  her  attire,  out  of  habitual  deference 
to  the  altar  and  its  ministers. 

About  a  dozen  persons,  deemed  worthy  of  confidence, 
were  present,  already ;  and  just  as  the  bride  and  bride 
groom  were  about  to  take  their  places,  Don  Ferdinand 
hastily  entered,  carrying  in  his  hand  some  papers  which  he 
had  been  obliged  to  cease  examining,  in  order  to  comply 
with  the  wishes  of  his  royal  consort.  The  king  was  a 
dignified  prince;  and  when  it  suited  him,  no  sovereign 
enacted  his  part  more  gracefully  or  in  better  taste.  Motion 
ing  the  archbishop  to  pause,  he  directed  Luis  to  kneel. 
Throwing  over  the  shoulder  of  the  young  man  the  collar 
of  one  of  his  own  orders,  he  said  — 

"  Now,  arise,  noble  sir,  and  ever  do  thy  duty  to  thy 
Heavenly  Master,  as  thou  hast  of  late  discharged  it  to 
wards  us." 

Isabella  rewarded  her  husband,  for  this  act  of  grace,  by 
an  approving  smile,  and  the  ceremony  immediately  pro 
ceeded.  In  the  usual  time,  our  hero  and  heroine  were  pro- 
nounced  man  and  wife,  and  the  solemn  rites  were  ended. 
Mercedes  felt,  in  the  warm  pressure  with  which  Luis  held 
her  to  his  heart,  that  she  now  understood  him ;  and,  for  a 
blissful  instant,  Ozema  was  forgotten,  in  the  fulness  of  her 
own  happiness.  Columbus  had  given  away  the  bride,  an 
office  that  the  king  assigned  to  him,  though  he  stood  at  the 
bridegroom's  side  himself,  with  a  view  to  do  him  honour, 
and  even  so  far  condescended  as  to  touch  the  canopy  that 
vvas  held  above  the  heads  of  the  new-married  couple.  But, 
Isabella  kept  aloof,  placing  herself  near  the  couch  of  Oze 
ma,  whose  features  she  watched  throughout  the  ceremony. 
She  had  felt  no  occasion  for  public  manifestations  of  in 
terest  in  the  bride,  their  feelings  having  so  lately  been 
poured  out  together  in  dear  and  private  communion.  The 


476  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

congratulations  were  soon  over,  and,  then,  Don  Feidinand, 
and  all  but  those  who  were  in  the  secret  of  Ozema's  history, 
withdrew. 

The  queen  had  not  desired  her  husband,  and  the  other 
attendants,  to  remain  and  witness  the  baptism  of  Ozema, 
out  of  a  delicate  feeling  for  the  condition  of  a  female  stranger, 
whom  her  habits  and  opinions  had  invested  with  a  por 
tion  of  the  sacred  rights  of  royalty.  She  had  noted  the 
intensity  of  feeling  with  which  the  half-enlightened  girl 
watched  the  movements  of  the  archbishop  and  the  parties, 
and  the  tears  had  forced  themselves  from  her  own  eyes,  at 
witnessing  the  struggle  between  love  and  friendship,  that 
was  pourtrayed  in  every  lineament  of  her  pale,  but  still 
lovely,  countenance. 

"  Where  cross  ?"  Ozema  eagerly  demanded,  as  Mercedes 
stooped  to  fold  the  wasted  form  of  the  young  Indian  in  her 
arms,  and  to  kiss  her  cheek.  "  Give  cross  —  Luis  no 
marry  with  cross — give  Ozema  cross." 

Mercedes,  herself,  took  the  cross  from  the  bosom  of  her 
husband,  where  it  had  lain  near  his  heart,  since  it  had  been 
returned  to  him,  and  put  it  in  the  hands  of  the  princess. 

"  No  marry  with  cross,  then,"  murmured  the  girl,  the 
tears  suffusing  her  eyes,  so  as  nearly  to  prevent  her  gazing 
at  the  much-prized  bauble.  "Now,  quick,  Senora,  and 
make  Ozema  Christian." 

The  scene  was  getting  to  be  too  solemn  and  touching  for 
many  words,  and  the  archbishop,  at  a  sign  from  the  queen, 
commenced  the  ceremony.  It  was  of  short  duration  ;  and 
Isabella's  kind  nature  was  soon  quieted  with  the  assurance 
that  the  stranger,  whom  she  deemed  the  subject  of  her  es 
pecial  care,  was  put  within  the  covenant  for  salvation  that 
had  been  made  with  the  visible  church. 

"  Is  Ozema  Christian  now  ?"  demanded  the  girl,  with  a 
suddenness  and  simplicity,  that  caused  all  present  to  look 
at  each  other,  with  pain  and  surprise. 

"  Thou  hast,  now,  the  assurance  that  God's  grace  will 
be  offered  to  thy  prayers,  daughter,"  answered  the  prelate. 
"  Seek  it  with  thy  hea>rt,  and  thy  end,  which  is  at  hand, 
will  be  more  blessed." 

"  Christian  no  marry  heathen  ? — Christian  marrv  Chris 
tian?" 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  477 

''  This  hast  thou  been  often  told,  my  poor  Ozema,"  re 
turned  the  queen — "  the  rite  could  not  be  duly  solemnized 
between  Christian  and  heathen." 

"  Christian  marry  first  lady  he  love  best  ?" 

"  Certainly.  To  do  otherwise  would  be  a  violation  of 
his  vow,  and  a  mockery  of  God." 

"  So  Ozema  think — but  he  can  marry  second  wife — in 
ferior  wife  —  lady  he  love  next.  Luis  marry  Mercedes, 
first  wife,  because  he  love  best — then  he  marry  Ozema,  se 
cond  wife — lower  wife — because  he  love  next  best — Ozema 
Christian,  now,  and  no  harm.  Come,  archbishop ;  make 
Ozema  Luis  second  wife." 

Isabella  groaned  aloud,  and  walked  to  a  distant  part  of 
the  chapel,  while  Mercedes  burst  into  tears,  and  sinking  on 
her  knees,  she  buried  her  face  in  the  cloth  of  the  couch, 
and  prayed  fervently  for  the  enlightening  of  the  soul  of  the 
princess.  The  churchman  did  not  receive  this  proof  of 
ignorance  in  his  penitent,  and  of  her  unfitness  for  the  rite 
he  had  just  administered,  with  the  same  pity  and  indulgence. 

"  The  holy  baptism  thou  hast  just  received,  benighted  wo 
man,"  he  said,  sternly,  "  is  healthful,  or  not,  as  it  is  im 
proved.  Thou  hast  just  made  such  a  demand,  as  already 
loadeth  thy  soul  with  a  fresh  weight  of  sin,  and  the  time, 
for  repentance  is  short.  No  Christian  can  have  two  wives 
at  the  same  time,  and  God  knoweth  no  higher  or  lower,  no 
first  or  last,  between  those  whom  his  church  hath  united. 
Thou  canst  not  be  a  second  wife,  the  first  still  living." 

"No  would  be  to  Caonabo  —  to  Luis,  yes.  Fifty,  hun 
dred  wife  to  dear  Luis  !  No  possible?" 

"  Self-deluded  and  miserable  girl,  I  tell  thee  no.  No — 
QO — no — never — never — never.  There  is  such  a  taint  of 
sin  in  fhe  very  question,  as  profaneth  this  holy  chapel,  ana 
the  symbols  of  religion  by  which  it  is  filled.  Ay,  kiss  and 
embrace  thy  cross,  and  bow  down  thy  very  soul  in  despair, 
for — " 

"  Lord  Archbishop  "  interrupted  the  Marchioness  of 
Moya,  with  a  sharpness  of  manner  that  denoted  how  much 
her  ancient  spirit  was  aroused,  "  there  is  enough  of  this. 
The  ear  thou  would'st  wound,  at  such  a  moment,  is  already 
deaf,  and  the  pure  spirit  hath  gone  to  the  tribunal  of  an 
other,  and,  as  I  trust,  a  milder  judge.  Ozema  is  dead !" 


478  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

It  was,  indeed,  true.  Startled  by  the  manner  of  the 
prelate  —  bewildered  with  the  confusion  of  ideas  that  had 
grown  up  between  the  dogmas  that  had  been  crowded  on 
her  mind,  of  late,  and  those  in  which  she  had  been  early 
taught ;  and  physically  paralyzed  by  the  certainty  that  her 
last  hope  of  a  union  with  Luis  was  gone,  the  spirit  of  the 
Indian  girl  had  deserted  its  beautiful  tenement,  leaving  on 
the  countenance  of  the  corpse  a  lovely  impression  of  the 
emotions  that  had  prevailed  during  the  last  moments  of  its 
earthly  residence. 

Thus  fled  the  first  of  those  souls,  that  the  great  discovery 
was  to  rescue  from  the  perdition  of  the  heathen.  Casuists 
may  refine,  the  learned  dilate,  and  the  pious  ponder,  on  its 
probable  fate  in  the  unknown  existence  that  awaited  it ;  but 
the  meek  and  submissive  will  hope  all  from  the  beneficence 
of  a  merciful  God.  As  for  Isabella,  she  received  a  shock 
from  the  blow,  that  temporarily  checked  her  triumph  at  the 
success  of  her  zeal  and  efforts.  Little,  however,  did  she 
foresee,  that  the  event  was  but  a  type  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  religion  of  the  cross  was  to  be  abused  and  mis 
understood  ;  a  sort  of  practical  prognostic  of  the  defeat 
of  most  of  her  own  pious  and  gentle  hopes  and  wishes. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

"  A  perfect  woman,  nobly  planned, 

To  warn,  to  comfort,  and  command ; 
And  yet  a  spirit  still,  and  bright 
With  something  of  an  angel  light." 

WORDSWORTH. 

THE  lustre  that  was  thrown  around  the  voyage  of  Co 
lumbus,  brought  the  seas  into  favour.  It  was  no  longer 
deemed  an  inferior  occupation,  or  unsuited  to  nobles,  to  en 
gage  in  enterprises  on  its  bosom ;  and  that  very  propen 
sity  of  our  hero,  which  had  so  often  been  mentioned  to  his 
prejudice,  in  former  years,  was  now  frequently  named  to 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  479 

his  credit.  Though  his  real  connexion  with  Columbus  is 
published,  for  the  first  time,  in  these  pages,  the  circum 
stance  having  escaped  the  superficial  investigations  of  the 
historians,  it  was  an  advantage  to  him  to  be  known  as 
having  manifested  what  might  be  termed  a  maritime  dispo 
sition,  in  an  age  when  most  of  his  rank  and  expectations 
were  satisfied  with  the  adventures  of  the  land.  A  sort  of 
fashion  was  got  up  on  behalf  of  the  ocean ;  and  the  cava 
lier  who  had  gazed  upon  its  vast  and  unbroken  expanse, 
beyond  the  view  of  his  mother  earth,  regarded  him  who 
had  not,  much  as  he  who  had  won  his  spurs  looked  down 
upon  him  who  had  suffered  the  proper  period  of  life  to  pass 
without  making  the  effort.  Many  of  the  nobles  whose 
estates  touched  the  Mediterranean  or  the  Atlantic,  fitted  out 
small  coasters  —  the  yachts  of  the  fifteenth  century  — 
and  were  met  following  the  sinuosities  of  the  glorious 
coasts  of  that  part  of  the  world,  endeavouring  to  derive  a 
satisfaction  from  a  pursuit  that  it  seemed  meritorious  to 
emulate.  That  all  succeeded,  who  attempted  thus  to  trans 
fer  the  habits  of  courts  and  castles  to  the  narrow  limits  of 
xebecs  and  feluccas,  it  would  be  hazarding  too  much  to 
assert ;  but  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  spirit  of  the  period 
was  sustained  by  the  experiments,  and  that  men  were 
ashamed  to  condemn  that,  which  it  was  equally  the  policy 
and  the  affectation  of  the  day  to  extol.  The  rivalry  be 
tween  Spain  and  Portugal,  too,  contributed  to  the  feeling 
of  the  times ;  and  there  was  soon  greater  danger  of  the 
youth  who  had  never  quitted  his  native  shores,  being 
pointed  out  for  his  want  of  spirit,  than  that  the  adventurer 
should  be  marked  for  his  eccentric  and  vagrant  instability. 
In  the  meanwhile,  the  seasons  advanced,  and  events  fol 
lowed,  in  their  usual  course,  from  cause  to  effect.  About 
the  close  of  the  month  of  September,  the  ocean,  just  with 
out  that,  narrow  and  romantic  pass  that  separates  Europe 
from  Africa,  while  it  connects  the  transcendent  Mediterra 
nean  with  the  broader  wastes  of  the  Atlantic,  was  glittering 
with  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  which,  at  the  same  time, 
was  gilding  the  objects  that  rose  above  the  surface  of  the 
blue  waters.  The  latter  were  not  numerous,  though  a 
dozen  different  sails  were  moving  slowly  on  their  several 
courses,  impelled  by  the  soft  breezes  of  the  season.  Oi 


480  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

these,  our  business  is  with  one  alone,  which  it  may  be  well 
to  describe  in  a  few  general  terms. 

The  rig  of  the  vessel  in  question,  was  latine,  perhaps 
the  most  picturesque  of  all  that  the  ingenuity  of  man  has 
invented  as  the  accessory  of  a  view,  whether  given  to  the 
eye  by  means  of  the  canvass,  or  in  its  real  dimensions  and 
substance.  Its  position,  too,  was  precisely  that  which  a 
painter  would  have  chosen  as  the  most  favourable  to  his 
pencil,  the  little  felucca  running  before  the  wind,  with  one 
of  its  high  pointed  sails  extended  on  each  side,  resembling 
the  pinions  of  some  enormous  bird  that  was  contracting 
its  wings  as  it  settled  towards  its  nest.  Unusual  symmetry 
was  apparent  in  the  spars  and  rigging;  while  the  hull, 
which  was  distinguished  by  lines  of  the  fairest  proportions, 
had  a  neatness  and  finish  that  denoted  the  yacht  of  a 
noble. 

The  name  of  this  vessel  was  the  "  Ozema,"  and  she  car 
ried  the  Count  of  Llera  with  his  youthful  bride.  Luis,  who 
had  acquired  much  of  the  mariner's  skill,  in  his  many 
voyages,  directed  the  movements  in  person,  though  Sancho 
Mundo  strutted  around  her  decks  with  an  air  of  authority, 
being  the  titular,  if  not  the  real  patron  of  the  craft. 

"Ay  —  ay  —  good  Bartolemeo,  lash  that  anchor  well," 
said  the  last,  as  he  inspected  the  forecastle,  in  his  hourly 
rounds ;  "  for  fair  as  may  be  the  breezes,  and  mild  as  is 
the  season,  no  one  can  know  what  humour  the  Atlantic 
may  be  in,  when  it  fairly  waketh  up.  In  the  great  voyage 
to  Cathay,  nothing  could  have  been  more  propitious  than 
our  outward  passage,  and  nothing  savour  more  of  devils 
incarnate,  than  the  homeward.  Dona  Mercedes  maketh  an 
excellent  sailor,  as  ye  all  may  see ;  and  no  one  can  tell 
which  way,  or  how  far,  the  humour  of  the  Conde  may 
carry  him,  when  he  hath  once  taken  his  departure.  I  tell 
ye,  fellows,  that  glory  and  gold  may  alight  upon  ye  all, 
any  minute,  in  the  service  of  such  a  noble ;  and  I  hope 
none  of  ye  have  forgotten  to  come  provided  with  hawk's- 
bells.  which  are  as  remarkable  for  assembling  doblas,  as 
the  bells  of  the  Seville  cathedral  are  for  assembling  Chris 
tians." 

"  Master  Mundo — "  called  out  our  hero  from  the  quarter 
deck,  "  let  there  be  a  man  sent  to  the  extremity  of  the  fore- 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  481 

yard,  and  bid  him  look  along  the  sea  to  the  north  and  east 
of  us." 

This  command  interrupted  one  of  Sancho's  self-glorify 
ing  discourses,  and  compelled  him  to  see  the  order  executed. 
When  the  seaman  who  was  sent  aloft,  had  "  shinned"  his 
way  to  the  airy  and  seemingly  perilous  position  he  had 
been  told  to  occupy,  an  inquiry  went  up  from  the  deck,  to 
demand  what  he  beheld. 

"  Senor  Conde,"  answered  the  fellow,  "  the  ocean  is 
studded  with  sails,  in  the  quarter  your  Excellency  hath 
named,  looking  like  the  mouth  of  the  Tagus,  at  the  first  of 
a  westerly  wind." 

"  Canst  thou  tell  them,  and  let  me  know  their  numbers  ?" 
called  out  Luis. 

"  By  the  mass,  Senor,"  returned  the  man,  after  taking 
time  to  make  his  count — "  I  see  no  less  than  sixteen — nay, 
now  I  see  another,  a  smaller  just  opening  from  behind  a 
carrack  of  size — seventeen,  I  make  them  in  all." 

"  Then  are  we  in  season,  love !"  exclaimed  Luis,  turning 
towards  Mercedes  with  delight — "once  more  shall  I  grasp 
the  hand  of  the  admiral,  ere  he  quitteth  us  again  for 
Cathay.  Thou  seemest  glad  as  myself,  that  our  effort 
hath  not  failed." 

"  That  which  gladdeneth  thee,  Luis,  is  sure  to  gladden 
me,"  returned  the  bride ;  "  where  there  is  but  one  interest, 
there  ought  to  be  but  one  wish." 

"  Beloved — beloved  Mercedes — thou  wilt  make  me  every 
thing  thou  canst  desire.  This  heavenly  disposition  of 
thine,  and  this  ready  consenting  to  voyage  with  me,  will  be 
sure  to  mould  me  in  such  a  way  that  I  shall  be  less  myself 
than  thee." 

"  As  yet,  Luis,"  returned  the  young  wife,  smiling,  "  the 
change  promiseth  to  be  tke  other  way,  since  thou  art 
much  likelier  to  make  me  a  rover,  than  I  to  make  thee  a 
fixture  of  the  castle  of  Llera." 

"  Thou  comest  not  out  upon  the  sea,  Mercedes,  contrary 
to  thine  own  wishes?"  demanded  Luis,  with  the  earnest 
quickness  of  one  who  was  fearful  he  might  unconsciously 
have  done  an  act  of  indiscretion. 

"  No,  dearest  Luis ;  so  far  from  it,  that  I  have  come  with 
satisfaction,  apart  from  the  pleasure  I  have  had  in  obliging 
41 


482  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

thee.  Fortunately,  I  feel  no  indisposition  from  the  motion 
of  the  felucca,  and  the  novelty  is  of  the  most  agreeable 
and  exciting  kind." 

To  say  "that  Louis  rejoiced  to  hear  this  on  more  accounts 
than  one,  is  but  to  add  that  he  still  found  a  pleasure  in  the 
scenes  of  the  ocean. 

In  half  an  hour  the  vessel  of  the  admiral  was  visible 
from  the  Ozema's  deck,  and  ere  the  sun  had  reached  the 
meridian,  the  little  felucca  was  gliding  into  the  centre  of 
the  fleet,  holding  her  course  towards  the  carrack  of  Colum 
bus.  The  usual  hailing  passed,  when,  apprised  of  the 
presence  of  Mercedes,  the  admiral  gallantly  repaired  on 
board  the  Ozema,  to  pay  his  respects  in  person.  The 
scenes  through  which  they  had  passed  together,  had  created 
in  Columbus  a  species  of  paternal  regard  for  Luis,  in 
which  Mercedes  shared,  through  the  influence  of  her  noble 
conduct  during  the  events  that  occurred  at  Barcelona.  He 
met  the  happy  pair,  therefore,  with  dignified  affection,  and 
his  reception  partook  of  the  feelings  that  the  Count  and 
Countess  so  fully  reciprocated. 

Nothing  could  be  more  striking  to  one  who  had  an 
opportunity  of  witnessing  both,  than  the  contrast  between 
the  means  with  which  the  Genoese  sailed  on  this,  and  on 
his  former  voyage.  Then  he  had  set  forth  neglected, 
almost  forgotten,  in  three  vessels,  ill-found,  and  worse- 
manned,  whilst  now,  the  ocean  was  whitened  with  his  can 
vass,  and  he  was  surrounded  by  no  inconsiderable  portion 
of  the  chivalry  of  Spain.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that 
the  Countess  of  Llera  was  in  the  felucca  that  had  stopped 
the  fleet,  boats  put  off  from  most  of  the  vessels,  and  Mer 
cedes  held  a  sort  of  court  on  the  broad  Atlantic ;  her  own 
female  attendants,  among  whom  were  two  or  three  of  the 
rank  of  ladies,  assisting  her  in  doing  proper  honour  to  the 
cavaliers  who  thronged  the  deck.  The  balmy  influence  of 
the  pure  air  of  the  ocean,  contributed  to  the  happiness  of 
the  moment ;  and,  for  an  hour,  the  Ozema  presented  a 
scene  of  gaiety  and  splendour,  such  as  had  never  before 
been  witnessed  by  any  person  present. 

"  Beautiful  countess,"  cried  one,  who  had  been  a  rejeofr^ 
suitor  of  our  heroine,  "  you  see  to  what  acts  of  desperation 
your  cruelty  hath  driven  me,  who  am  going  forth  on  ap 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  483 

adventure  to  the  farthest  east.  It  is  well  for  Don  Luis  that 
I  did  not  make  this  venture  before  he  won  your  favour ; 
as  no  damsel  in  Spain  is  expected,  henceforth,  to  withstand 
the  suit  of  one  of  the  admiral's  followers." 

"  It  may  be  as  you  say,  Seiior,"  returned  Mercedes,  her 
heart  swelling  with  the  consciousness  that  he  whom  she 
had  chosen  had  made  this  same  boasted  adventure,  whilst 
others  shrunk  from  its  hazard,  and  when  its  result  was  still 
a  mystery  in  the  unknown  future  —  "It  may  be  as  you 
say  ;  but  one  of  moderate  wishes,  like  myself,  must  be  con- 
lent  with  these  unambitious  voyages  along  the  coast,  in 
which,  happily,  a  wife  may  be  her  husband's  companion." 

"  Lady,"  cried  the  gallant  and  reckless  Alonzo  de  Ojeda, 
in  his  turn,  "  Don  Luis  caused  me  to  roll  upon  the  earth, 
in  the  tourney,  by  a  fair  and  manly  effort,  that  hath  left  no 
rancour  behind  it ;  but  I  shall  outdo  him  now,  since  he  is 
content  to  keep  the  shores  of  Spain  in  view,  leaving  to  us 
the  glory  of  seeking  the  Indies,  and  of  reducing  the  Infidels 
to  the  sway  of  the  two  sovereigns  !" 

"  It  is  a  sufficient  honour  to  my  husband,  Senor,  that  he 
can  boast  of  the  success  you  name,  and  he  must  rest  satis 
fied  with  the  reputation  acquired  in  that  one  deed." 

"  Countess,  a  year  hence,  you  would  love  him  better,  did 
he  come  forth  with  us,  and  show  tits  spirit  among  the  peo 
ple  of  the  Grand  Khan  !" 

"  Thou  seest,  Don  Alonzo,  that  the  illustrious  admiral 
doth  not  altogether  despise  him  as  it  is.  They  seek  a  pri 
vate  interview  in  my  cabin  together;  an  attention  Don 
Christopher  would  not  be  apt  to  pay  a  recreant,  or  a  lag 
gard." 

"'Tis  surprising!"  resumed  the  rejected  suitor;  "the 
favour  of  the  Conde  with  our  noble  admiral  hath  surprised 
us  all,  at  Barcelona.  Can  it  be,  de  Ojeda,  that  they  have 
met  in  some  of  their  earlier  nautical  wanderings  ?" 

"  By  the  mass  !  Senor,"  cried  Alonzo,  laughing,  "  if  Don 
Luis  ever  met  the  admiral,  as  he  met  me  in  the  lists,  1 
should  think  one  interview  would  answer  for  the  rest  of 
their  days !" 

In  this  manner  did  the  discourse  proceed,  some  speaking 
in  levity,  some  in  more  sober  mood,  and  all  in  amity, 


484  MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE. 

Whilst  this  was  passing  on  deck,  Columbus  had,  indeed,  re 
tired  to  a  cabin  with  our  hero. 

"  Don  Luis,"  said  the  admiral,  when  they  were  seated 
near  each  other,  and  alone,  "  thou  knowest  the  regard  I 
bear  thee,  and  I  feel  certain  that  thou  returnest  it  with  an 
equal  degree  of  esteem.  I  now  go  forth  from  Spain,  on  a 
far  more  perilous  adventure  than  that  in  which  thou  wert 
my  companion.  Then  I  sailed  concealed  in  contempt,  and 
veiled  from  human  eyes  by  ignorance  and  pity  ;  now,  have 
I  left  the  old  world,  followed  by  malignancy  and  envy. 
These  facts  am  I  too  old  not  to  have  seen,  and  foreseen. 
In  my  absence,  many  will  be  busy  with  my  name.  Even 
they  who  now  shout  at  my  heels,  will  become  my  calumni 
ators,  revenging  themselves  for  past  adulation  by  present 
detraction.  The  sovereigns  will  be  beset  with  lies,  and  any 
disappointment  in  the  degree  of  success  will  be  distorted 
into  crimes.  I  leave  friends  behind  me,  too — friends,  such 
as  Juan  Perez,  de  St.  Angel,  Quintanilla,  and  thyself.  On 
ye,  then,  do  I  greatly  rely,  not  for  favours,  but  for  the  in 
terest  of  truth  and  justice." 

"  Senor,  you  may  count  upon  my  small  influence  under 
all  circumstances.  I  have  seen  you  in  the  day  of  trial, 
and  it  exceedeth  ordinary  misrepresentations  to  weaken  my 
faith  in  you." 

"  This  did  I  believe,  Luis,  even  before  it  was  so  warmly 
and  sincerely  said,"  returned  the  admiral,  squeezing  the 
young  man's  hand  with  fervour.  "  I  doubt  if  Fonseca, 
who  hath  now  so  much  power  in  the  affairs  of  India,  is 
truly  my  friend.  Then,  there  is  one  of  thy  blood  and  name, 
who  hath  already  regarded  me  with  unfavourable  eyes, 
and  whom  I  distrust  exceedingly,  should  an  occasion  offer 
in  which  he  might  do  me  injury." 

"  I  know  him  well,  Don  Christopher,  and  account  him 
as  doing  no  credit  to  the  house  of  Bobadilla." 

"  He  hath  credit,  nevertheless,  with  the  king,  which  is 
of  more  importance,  just  now  !" 

"  Ah !  Senor,  to  that  wily  and  double-faced  monarch, 
you  must  look  for  nothing  generous.  So  long  as  Dofia 
Isabella's  ear  can  be  kept  open  to  the  truth,  there  is  nothing 
to  fear,  but  Don  Ferdinand  groweth  each  day  more  worldly 
and  temporizing.  Mass  ! — that  one  who,  in  youth,  was  so 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  485 

bold  and  manly  a  knight,  should  in  his  age  betray  so  many 
of  the  meannesses  that  would  disgrace  a  Moor  !  My  noble 
aunt,  however,  is  a  host  in  herself,  and  will  ever  remain 
true  to  you,  as  she  commenced." 

"  God  overruleth  all,  and  it  were  sinful  to  distrust  either 
his  wisdom  or  justice.  And  now,  Luis,  one  word  touching 
thyself.  Providence  hath  made  thee  the  guardian  of  the 
happiness  of  such  a  being  as  is  seldom  found  this  side  the 
gates  of  heaven.  The  man  who  is  blessed  with  a  virtuous 
and  amiable  wife,  like  her  thou  hast  wedded,  should  erect 
an  altar  in  his  heart,  on  which  he  ought  to  make  daily,  nay, 
hourly,  sacrifices  of  gratitude  to  God  for  the  boon ;  since, 
of  all  earthly  blessings,  he  enjoyeth  the  richest,  the  purest, 
and  the  most  lasting,  should  ho  not  be  unmindful  of  his  own 
riches.  But  a  woman  like  Dona  Mercedes  is  a  creature  as 
delicate  as  she  is  rare.  Let  her  equanimity  check  thy  im 
petuosity  ;  her  purity  rebuke  the  less-refined  elements  of 
thy  composition  ;  her  virtue  stimulate  thine  own ;  her  love 
keep  thine  in  an  unceasing  flame,  and  her  tenderness  be  a 
constant  appeal  to  thy  manly  indulgence  and  protection. 
Fulfil  all  thy  duties  as  a  Spanish  grandee,  son,  and  seek 
felicity  in  the  partner  of  thy  bosom,  and  in  love  to  God." 

The  admiral  now  gave  Luis  his  blessing,  and  taking 
leave  of  Mercedes  in  the  same  solemn  manner,  he  hastened 
to  his  carrack.  Boat  after  boat  quitted  the  felucca,  many 
calling  out  their  leave-takings  even  after  they  were  at  a 
distance.  In  a  few  minutes,  the  heavy  yards  swung  round, 
and  the  fleet  was  again  sweeping  off  towards  the  south 
west,  holding  its  way,  as  was  then  fancied,  towards  the 
distant  shore  of  India.  For  an  hour  the  Ozema  lay  where 
she  had  been  left  by  Columbus,  as  if  gazing  at  her  retiring 
friends  ;  then  her  canvass  filled,  and  she  hauled  up  towards 
that  bight  of  the  coast,  at  the  bottom  of  which  lay  the  port 
of  Palos  de  Moguer. 

The  afternoon  was  deliciously  balmy,  and  when  the 
felucca  drew  in  with  the  land,  the  surface  of  the  sea  was 
as  smooth  as  that  of  an  inland  lake.  There  was  just 
wind  enough  to  cool  the  air,  and  to  propel  the  little  vessel 
three  or  four  knots  through  the  water.  The  day  apart 
ment,  occupied  by  our  hero  and  heroine,  was  on  the  quar 
ter-deck.  It  was  formed,  on  the  exterior,  by  a  tarpawlin, 
41  * 


486  MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE. 

bent  like  the  tilt  of  a  wagon,  while  fhe  interior  was  em 
bellished  with  a  lining  of  precious  stuffs  that  converted  it 
into  a  beautiful  little  saloon.  In  front,  a  canvass  bulkhead 
protected  it  from  the  gaze  of  the  crew ;  and,  towards  the  stern, 
a  rich  curtain  fell,  when  it  became  necessary  to  shut  out 
the  view.  The  latter  was  now  carelessly  festooned,  permit 
ting  the  eye  to  range  over  a  broad  expanse  of  the  ocean, 
and  to  watch  the  glories  -of  the  setting  sun. 

Mercedes  reclined  on  a  luxurious  couch,  gazing  on  the 
ocean,  and  Luis  touched  a  guitar,  seated  on  a  stool  at  her 
feet.  He  had  just  played  a  favourite  national  air,  which  he 
had  accompanied  with  his  voice,  and  had  laid  aside  the 
instrument,  when  he  perceived  that  his  young  wife  did  noi 
listen,  with  her  usual  fondness  and  admiration,  to  his 
music. 

"  Thou  art  thoughtful,  Mercedes,"  he  said,  leaning  for 
ward  to  read  the  melancholy  expression  of  those  eyes  that 
were  so  often  glowing  with  enthusiasm. 

"  The  sun  is  setting  in  the  direction  of  the  land  of  poor 
Ozema,  Luis,"  Mercedes  answered,  a  slight  tremour  per 
vading  her  voice;  "the  circumstance,  in  connexion  with 
the  sight  of  this  boundless  ocean,  that  so  much  resembleth 
eternity,  hath  led  me  to  think  of  her  end.  Surely — surely 
— a  creature  so  innocent  can  never  be  consigned  to  eternal 
misery,  because  her  unenlightened  mind  and  impassioned 
feelings  were  unable  to  comprehend  all  the  church's  mys 
teries"!" 

"  I  would  that  thou  thought'st  less  on  this  subject,  love ; 
thy  prayers,  and  the  masses  that  have  been  said  for  her 
soul,  should  content  thee ;  or,  if  thou  wilt,  the  last  can 
be  repeated,  again  and  again." 

"  We  will  offer  still  more,"  returned  the  young  wife, 
scarce  speaking  above  her  breath,  while  the  tears  fell  down 
her  cheeks.  "  The  best  of  us  will  need  masses,  and  we  owe 
this  to  poor  Ozema.  Didst  thou  bethink  thee,  to  intercede 
again  writh  the  admiral,  to  do  all  service  to  Mattinao,  on 
reaching  Espaiiola  ?" 

"  That  hath  been  attended  to,  and  so  dismiss  the  subject 
from  thy  mind.  The  monument  is  already  erected  at  Llera, 
and.  we  may  feel  regret  for  the  loss  of  the  sweet  girl,  but 
•an  scarce  mourn  for  her.  Were  I  not  Luis  de  Bobadilla, 


MERCEDES    OP    CASTILE.  487 

thy  husband,  dearest,  I  could  think  her  the  subject  of  envy, 
rather  than  of  pity." 

"  Ah !  Luis,  thy  flattery  is  too  pleasing  to  bring  reproof, 
but  it  is  scarce  seemly.  Even  the  happiness  I  feel,  in  being 
assured  of  thy  love — that  our  fortunes,  fate,  name,  interests 
are  one  —  is,  in  truth,  but  misery,  compared  with  the  sera 
phic  joys  of  the  blessed ;  and  to  such  joys  I  could  wish 
Ozema's  spirit  might  be  elevated." 

"  Doubt  it  not,  Mercedes ;  she  hath  all  that  her  goodness 
and  innocence  can  claim.  Mass  !  If  she  even  have  half  that 
I  feel,  in  holding  thee  thus  to  my  heart,  she  is  no  subject  for 
grief,  and  thou  say'st  she  hath,  or  wilt  have,  tenfold  more." 

"  Luis — Luis — speak  not  thus  !  We  will  have  other 
masses  said  at  Seville,  as  well  as  at  Burgos  and  Salamanca." 

"  As  thou  wilt,  love.  Let  them  be  said  yearly,  monthly, 
weekly,  for  ever,  or  as  long  as  the  churchmen  think  they 
may  have  virtue." 

Mercedes  smiled  her  gratitude,  and  the  conversation  be 
came  less  painful,  though  it  continued  to  be  melancholy. 
An  hour  passed  in  this  manner,  during  which,  the  commu 
nion  was  of  the  sweet  character  that  pervades  the  inter 
course  of  those  who  love  tenderly.  Mercedes  had  already 
acquired  a  powerful  command  over  the  headlong  propensi 
ties  and  impetuous  feelings  of  her  husband,  and  was  gradu 
ally  moulding  him,  unknown  to  herself,  to  be  the  man  that 
was  necessary  to  her  own  feelings.  In  this  change,  which 
was  the  result  of  influence,  and  not  of  calculation  or  design, 
she  was  aided  by  the  manly  qualities  of  our  hero,  which 
were  secretly  persuading  him  that  he  had  now  the  happi 
ness  of  another  in  his  keeping,  as  well  as  his  own.  This 
is  an  appeal  that  a  really  generous  mind  seldom  withstands, 
and  far  oftener  produces  the  correction  of  minor  faults,  than 
any  direct  management,  or  open  rebukes.  Perhaps  Mer 
cedes's  strongest  arm,  however,  was  her  own  implicit  con 
fidence  in  her  husband's  excellence,  Luis  feeling  a  desire  to 
be  that  which  she  so  evidently  thought  him ;  an  opinion 
that  his  own  conscience  did  not,  in  the  fullest  extent,  cor 
roborate. 

Just  as  the  sun  had  set,  Sancho  came  to  announce  that 
he  had  let  go  the  anchor. 

"  Here  we  are,  Senor  Conde,  —  here  we  are,  at  last,  Se- 


488  MERCEDES   OP   CASTILE. 

flora  Dona  Mercedes,  lying  off  the  town  of  Palos,  and 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  very  spot  where  Don  Chris- 
topher  and  his  gallant  companions  departed  for  the  dis 
covery  of  the  Indies — God  bless  him  a  hundred-fold,  and  all 
who  went  with  him.  The  boat  is  ready  to  take  you  to  the 
shore,  Senora ;  and  there,  if  you  do  not  find  Seville,  or 
Barcelona,  cathedrals  and  palaces,  you  will  find  Palos,  and 
Santa  Clara,  and  the  Ship-Yard  Gate — three  places  that  are, 
henceforth,  to  be  more  renowned  than  either:  Palos,  as 
having  sent  forth  the  expedition ;  Santa  Clara,  as  having 
saved  it  from  destruction,  by  vows  fulfilled  at  its  altars ; 
and  the  Gate,  for  having  had  the  ship  of  the  admiral  built 
within  it." 

"And  other  great  events,  good  Sancho!"  put  in  the 
count. 

"  Just  so,  your  Excellency ;  and  for  other  great  events. 
Am  I  to  land  you,  lady  ?" 

Mercedes  assented,  and  in  ten  minutes  she  and  her  hus 
band  were  walking  on  the  beach,  within  ten  yards  of  the 
very  spot  where  Columbus  and  Luis  had  embarked  the 
previous  year.  The  firm  sands  were  now  covered  with 
people,  walking  in  the  cool  of  the  evening.  Most  of  them 
were  of  the  humbler  classes,  this  being  the  only  land,  we 
believe,  in  which  the  population  of  countries  that  possess  a 
favourable  climate,  do  not  thus  mingle  in  their  public  pro 
menades,  at  that  witching  hour. 

Luis  and  his  beautiful  wife  had  landed  merely  for  exer 
cise  and  relaxation,  well  knowing  that  the  felucca  pos 
sessed  better  accommodations  than  any  hosteria  of  Palos ; 
and  they  fell  into  the  current  of  the  walkers.  Before  them 
was  a  group  of  young  matrons,  who  were  conversing 
eagerly,  and  sufficiently  loud  to  be  overheard.  Our  hero 
and  heroine  instantly  ceased  their  own  discourse,  when  they 
found  that  the  subject  was  the  voyage  to  Cathay. 

"  This  day,"  said  one  of  the  party,  in  a  tone  of  autho 
rity,  "  did  Don  Christopher  sail  from  Cadiz ;  the  sovereigns 
deeming  Palos  too  small  a  port  for  the  equipment  of  so 
great  an  enterprise.  You  may  depend  on  what  I  tell  ye, 
good  neighbours ;  my  husband,  as  you  all  well  know,  hold- 
ing  an  appointment  in  the  admiral's  own  ship." 


MERCEDES    OF    CASTILE.  489 

"  You  are  to  be  envied,  neighbour,  that  he  is  in  so  good 
repute  with  so  great  a  man  !" 

"  How  could  he  be  otherwise,  seeing  that  he  was  with 
him  before,  when  few  had  courage  to  be  his  companions, 
and  was  ever  faithful  to  his  orders.  *  Monica' — nay,  it  was 
1  good  Monica'  —  said  the  admiral  to  me,  with  his  own 
mouth,  '  thy  Pepe  is  a  true-hearted  mariner,  and  hath  con 
ducted  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  He  shall  be  made  the 
boatswain  of  my  own  carrack,  and  thou,  and  thy  posterity, 
to  the  latest  antiquity,  may  boast  that  you  belong  to  so 
good  a  man.'  These  were  his  words ;  and  what  he  said, 
he  did, — Pepe  being  now  a  boatswain.  But  the  paters  and 
aves  that  I  said  to  reach  this  good  fortune,  would  pave  this 
beach !" 

Luis  now  stepped  forward  and  saluted  the  party,  making 
curiosity  to  know  the  particulars  of  the  first  departure,  his 
excuse.  As  he  expected,  Mojiica  did  not  recognize  him  in 
his  present  rich  attire,  and  she  willingly  related  all  she 
knew,  and  not  a  little  more.  The  interview  showed  how 
completely  this  woman  had  passed  from  despair  to  exulta 
tion,  reducing  the  general  and  more  public  change  of  sen 
timent,  down  to  the  individual  example  of  a  particular  case. 

"  I  have  heard  much  of  one  Pinzon,"  added  Luis,  "  who 
went  forth  as  pilot  of  a  caravel  in  the  voyage :  what  hath 
become  of  him  ?" 

"  Senor,  he  is  dead  !"  answered  a  dozen  voices,  Monica's, 
however,  so  far  getting  the  ascendency,  as  to  tell  the  story. 
"  He  was  once  a  great  man  in  this  quarter ;  but  now  his 
name  is  lost,  like  his  life.  He  was  untrue,  and  died  of 
grief,  it  is  said,  when  he  found  the  Nina  lying  in  the  river, 
when  he  expected  to  have  had  all  the  glory  to  himself." 

Luis  had  been  too  much  engrossed  with  his  own  feel 
ings  to  have  heard  this  news  before,  and  he  continued  his 
walk,  musing  and  sad. 

"  So  much  for  unlawful  hopes,  and  designs  that  God 
doth  not  favour !"  he  exclaimed,  when  they  had  walked  a 
considerable  distance.  "Providence  hath,  I  think,  been  of 
the  admiral's  side ;  and  certainly,  my  love,  it  hath  been  of 
mine." 

"  This  is  Santa  Clara,"  observed  Mercedes.  "  Luis,  I 
would  enter,  and  return  a  thanksgiving  at  its  altars  for  thy 


490  MERCEDES   OF   CASTILE. 

safety  and  return,  and  offer  a  prayer  for  the  future  success 
of  Don  Christopher." 

They  both  entered  the  church,  and  they  knelt  together 
at  the  principal  altar ;  for,  in  that  age,  the  bravest  warriors 
were  not  as  much  ashamed,  as  in  our  own  times,  of  publicly 
acknowledging  their  gratitude  to,  and  their  dependence  on, 
God.  This  duty  performed,  the  happy  pair  returned  silently 
to  the  beach,  and  went  off  to  the  felucca. 

Early  in  the  morning,  the  Ozema  sailed  for  Malaga, 
again,  Luis  being  fearful  he  might  be  recognized  if  he  con 
tinued  at  Palos.  Their  port  was  reached  in  safety ;  and 
shortly  after  the  party  arrived  at  Valverde,  the  principal 
estate  of  Mercedes,  where  we  shall  leave  our  hero  and 
heroine  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  felicity  that  was  as  great 
as  could  be  produced  by  the  connexion  oetween  manly  ten 
derness  on  one  side,  ana  purity  ot  leenng  and  disinterested 
womanly  love  on  the  other. 

At  a  late  day,  there  were  otner  Luis  de  BooadiLas  in 
Spain,  among  her  gallant  ana  nobie,  and  other  Mercedes', 
to  cause  the  hearts  of  the  gay  and  aspiring  to  acne ;  but 
there  was  only  one  Ozema.  She  appeared  at  court,  in 
the  succeeding  reign,  and,  for  a  time,  blazed  like  a  star  that 
had  just  risen  in  a  pure  atmosphere.  Her  career,  however, 
was  short,  dying  young  and  lamented:  since  which  time,  the 
name  itself  has  perished.  It  is,  in  part,  owing  to  these  cir 
cumstances,  that  we  have  been  obliged  to  drag  so  much  of 
aur  legend  from  the  lost  records  of  that  eventful  period. 


THE   END 


